Carvajal stars on day three of White Wheek
“The best night I've ever experienced was the game against Manchester City. It was a special feeling, equalising in the sixth minute of injury time and the atmosphere around the stadium. We looked at each other and felt like gladiators in the coliseum," said the madridista full-back.
Dani Carvajal was the star turn on day three of White Week by the Universidad Europea - Real Madrid Graduate School. At the event moderated by Emilio Butragueño, our right-back, winner of 6 Champions League trophies with the club, explained: "It's been five and a half months since the surgery, I've got my boots back on and I'm getting sessions out on the pitch under my belt to try and get back as soon as possible, but making sure we do things right."
Injury
“From the moment I picked up the injury, I was back in the dressing room and my mind just clicked, I was the one encouraging my teammates, and even my wife. It was another challenge on that road. Just as you prepare yourself to win titles, this was a big obstacle but we were going to do all we could to come through it. It's been a hard few months, but I've felt so loved by everyone at Real Madrid. The respect and support of the footballing world have also been really important in hanging in there when I felt low."
A Blanco through and through
“I arrived here at 10 years old, but I've been a madridista since the day I was born. I don't think I'm quite aware of it all. I see the images of the academy pitches and I remember when I used to play there like it was yesterday, in the youth teams, with the dream of training alongside the first team guys. Thank God, and thanks to my hard work and perseverance I can say that I've experienced one of the golden ages of the club, and I'm still living it because this isn't over yet. It's a dream to become a legend at this club. The goal of being the club's most decorated player is present in my mind and I go to bed happy every night whenever I think about it."
Real Madrid and the Champions League
“The best night I've ever experienced was the game against Manchester City, I've never lived anything like it. It was a special feeling, equalising in the sixth minute of injury time and the atmosphere around the stadium. We looked at each other and felt like gladiators in the coliseum."
“Whenever you play a game as big as that, you always imagine scoring a goal in the final. In my case, it was sixth time lucky. It was an unbelievable feeling to get the goal, I was so incredibly proud. People will remember me for that goal I scored at Wembley because it was the culmination of a fantastic year. Going down in football history thanks to the 6 European Cups with five of my teammates is wonderful. Madrid keeps winning and that has been, is and will continue to be Real Madrid, it's bigger than everything else. So that's why you have to get on board, learn the club's values and take on all it means."
Motivation and philosophy
“Until the end, come on Real. This phrase is a reference to one of the great strengths of this jersey and this club. We never give up, we know that Real Madrid is alive until the final whistle blows and we've shown that more than once, twice, three times. As a result, as the game is coming to a close, our opponents feel that fear creep in, of being up against Real Madrid, and they know what the club has done in the final moments throughout its history. That's why, even when games are really up against us, they turn back in our favour."
Captaincy
“I still have the first ever armband I wore at home, that should tell you all you need to know. You keep achieving your goals, even if they feel distant at times, the years pass by and you're still just as important to the club, or even more so. Pulling on the Real Madrid captain's armband means a lot. The main thing I try and transmit is good manners, discipline and living out the Real Madrid values in order to instil them in the younger lads. Never give up until the end, know how to win and to lose."
Other speakers
Víctor Alfaro, Podoactiva Director General and Real Madrid first-team podologist, was also involved in day three of White Week, leading the conference, It all starts with a step. Alex Wicks, CEO of Real Madrid Estadio, focused his speech around a stadium for the future, while Silvia Montes-Jovellar, Project Director for the Real Madrid Foundation, talked to students about The Real Madrid Foundation: the soul of solidarity.