Real Madrid celebrated winning the LaLiga title on Sunday, with the team taking an open top bus through the streets of Madrid to share the trophy with their fans.
The trophy was presented to the players, coach Carlo Ancelotti and president Florentino Perez by Spanish football federation [RFEF] president Pedro Rocha in a behind-closed-doors ceremony at the club’s Valdebebas training ground on Sunday morning.
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The squad then boarded a bus to visit the headquarters of Madrid’s regional government at Puerta del Sol, in the centre of the city, and the town hall, before arriving at nearby Cibeles, where they were joined by thousands of fans.
“We have to go to Cibeles, because we’ve won a very difficult league title,” captain Nacho told Real Madrid TV. “We’re very happy. You have to enjoy the moment because you never know when you’ll win another. It gives you goosebumps going to Cibeles. I’ve been dreaming about this all year.”
“We’ve had a spectacular season,” midfielder Toni Kroos said. “We’ve had difficulties, a lot of injuries, but winning the league early, and with this lead, says a lot about this group. It’s important to celebrate with the fans.”
Madrid’s title win was confirmed last weekend when they beat Cadiz 3-0, followed by Girona’s 4-2 victory over Barcelona, meaning Madrid had an insurmountable 13-point lead with four games left.
It’s the club’s 36th league title, a record in Spanish football.
They will have the chance to add another trophy to their collection next month when they play Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final at Wembley Stadium, London.
“Thank you for your support and your affection this season,” England midfielder Jude Bellingham told the crowd at Puerta del Sol, speaking in Spanish. “One more big game at Wembley, and we’re going to win. Come on Madrid!”
Madrid’s league title celebrations were postponed until after they had completed their Champions League semifinal against Bayern Munich, winning the second leg 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday thanks to a late brace from forward Joselu.
“This is a special league title for Real Madrid, because we’ve won it with the values of a team,” president Florentino Perez said. “Everything we’ve done is thanks to effort, hard work, humility… This team has overcome a lot of adversity, with a lot of injuries, and they’ve come through it. [Thibaut] Courtois, [Éder] Militão and [David Alaba] are an example of how to overcome.
“This 36th league title is ‘the league of overcoming.’ History obliges us to keep winning and the other day we had another magical night at the Bernabeu. We’ll give everything to win the 15th [European Cup].”
The RFEF had originally suggested handing over the trophy on Saturday, as Madrid visited Granada in their first league game since being crowned champions, but Madrid rejected that proposal out of respect for Granada, whose relegation from LaLiga was confirmed this weekend.