Casillas and Carlos Sainz on day three of White Week
“The experience of a Champions League final is something special; I've had it as a player and as a fan, they both have their magical elements," said the club legend.
Iker Casillas and Carlos Sainz were the stars on day three of Real Madrid Graduate School - Universidad Europea's White Week. The event, moderated by Emilio Butragueño, saw the legendary madridista goalkeeper reflect: "When you're younger, you always dream about the big moments, like playing for Real Madrid and being involved in finals, playing for titles. The experience of a Champions League final is something special. I was lucky enough to have it as a player and as a fan, the last time out in Paris. It's different, but they both have their magical elements. The chances of playing in a Champions League final are tiny. The team will be trying to forget what they've achieved in the league, it's been brilliant, but they will be focused on the final."
The Real Madrid DNA
“It's about competing and showing courage. That's how these things are won, you have to fire each other up and show that with real guts, you can drag the whole team up. I've seen old images of the original big comebacks. Beyond playing football, they really put a shift in. To do that, you have to have our DNA, like our honorary president Pirri had, or Di Stéfano.”
World Cup in South Africa
“It's amazing when you get to that point where an entire country is behind you and you can make them happy because they've never experienced it before. You feel delighted to have achieved a dream you never thought you'd get to live. We all had a big role to play throughout the tournament, both those who played and those who didn't. We all knew it was our World Cup and we brought out that winning mentality. I've enjoyed every moment I could have wished for as a footballer."
Mentality following his heart-attack
“That moment forces you to change your mindset. On the way from the training ground to the hospital, all sorts of things go through your mind, it all happens so quickly. It makes you appreciate things you've always complained about or that you haven't given any importance. You have to live with your head, with integrity. I used to get flustered by problems, now it's about analysing things and if I can handle it, great. What happened to me wasn't a small thing, it could happen again. I got to know myself and I was fighting so hard because I couldn't even walk 20 metres. When I started to get fitter again six months later, I felt proud of myself. You have to appreciate what you have and what you stood to lose."
Carlos Sainz and sporting values
Prior to Casillas' appearance, two-time Rally World Champion and four-time winner of the Dakar Rally Carlos Sainz spoke about a successful life based on sporting values: "Beyond sport, you hope your family and your kids are good people. Before sport comes virtue, team spirit, and that's what you try and instil in your kids because that's what I was taught in my house. On a sporting level, you have to try and instil the values that will make you a better athlete but also a better person, it's not always about winning at all costs."
Keys to success
“It's very difficult to pick just one, but success first and foremost comes from imagining it. As a kid, I used to dream of big things and that helps you believe you can overcome challenges, that you can achieve your goals. If you don't back those dreams up with hard work, then you will never find success. You have to renew your aspirations and your dreams. You change them little by little and you keep working hard to reach your goals. You have to try and put things in place, like discipline, attitude, desire. There is something that really helped me in my sporting career, and it's that I have always tried to be very precise, I've paid close attention to the details. Small details make a difference."
FIFA present at Real Madrid City
Day three of White Week was also attended by Mattias Grafström, FIFA's Secretary General, who spoke about our club's greatness: "Real Madrid, what a club, what a history. All the Champions Leagues they have won... more than double the rest of the clubs. You have gone from being a great Spanish club to a world-renown club.”
Club World Cup
“We're building this Club World Cup to give non-European clubs a chance to take part against teams like Real Madrid. Taking European teams to the United States in a competitive setting could bring all kinds of benefits for the future. We're working together to make it the best possible and hold one edition every four years."
The Real Madrid Foundation
Julio Gonzáles Ronco, managing director of the Real Madrid City, spoke to the students about the club's solidarity efforts: “Collective sport is like a microcosm of society. It has groups of people with their leaders, in their coaches. It's a perfect space in which to address social cohesion. Working on a specific value in each session, they become instilled. Values are held by human beings and sport is a way of putting those values into practice, it's a space for cohesion and inclusion. We have developed a methodology to educate in values, not to build competitive teams."