Warning: avoid this post if you’re about to go out and have some fun, because reading it will put you right to sleep. I had to take multiple breaks while translating in order to stay awake (and the video is only seven minutes long). The team’s Christmas greetings video and outtakes video better be good, in order to offset this captains/president/coach video. On the upside, they used all four captains this year, after only using Iker and Sergio last year, probably because they needed that extra Marcelo sunshine and sparkle. I love that Sergio also provided some much needed color with his sweater.
What Gonzalo is thinking: come on Sergio, hurry up with the champagne, filming that was painful.
Here is what is said during the video.
FP: I personally like the Christmas holiday, and for those who celebrate during these days, we believe it’s a time for peace, for generosity and also for a time for hope.
JM: I’ll go to Portugal for several days, to see our families. And then I’ll spend two or three more days with my wife and our children. We’ll do what we hardly ever get a chance to do, which is go to another country, just the four of us. We’ll think together and start preparing for the new year together.
What Iker is thinking: we look like two grandfathers and four grandsons! And good thing I didn’t wear my cardigan, or it would be three grandfathers and three grandsons.
IC: like the president and the míster said, we’ll be with our families, spending both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve together with our loved ones, which is the tradition, and we’ll say goodbye to this year, which has been a great one in terms of health, and welcome the new one in the best way possible.
JM: what I like most is the significance of this date for Catholics, for a Catholic family like mine. I’ve been living away from my country, my city for more than 10 years, so it’s a moment to return and spend time with the family, to prepare for the new year.
FP: for me, it’s normal to spend time with the people you love during this holiday season, such as your family, and also your friends.
SR: I’ll spend these days in my land, Sevilla, with my family, my friends and my loved ones. I’ll also reflect back on this year, on both the good and bad things that happened, to try and start 2012 off on a good foot. I hope it will be a great year and full of dreams that will be realized at the end of the season.
What Sergio is thinking: don’t drop the champagne bottle. What Mou is thinking: he’s going to drop it. What Marcelo is thinking: come on Sergio, drop it!
GH: I’ll be very happy to meet up once again with those people that I don’t get to see on a daily basis. I’ll spend the time with many people, my loved ones, the ones who are always there for you, so I’m happy I get to do that.
MV: I’ll also be returning to my country, to Brazil, to celebrate with my family, with my son, with my wife. I am eagerly awaiting for that time to come so that I can spend time with them.
FP: the best thing about 2011 was being in good health, which allows all of us to be here together. And in terms of sports, the best thing was without a doubt the Copa del Rey, as it was something that has long been desired by all madridistas. It was a historic final for many people, the best final in the history of the Copa del Rey. I would also like to highlight the sound economic and institutional situation of the club, which makes us stronger.
JM: in this moment of serious economic and social crisis in Europe, I believe madridistas have many reasons to be proud to be madridistas, because this club seems to live in a world apart, since their sound economic situation is something fantastic. As for the Copa del Rey, el madridismo had practically forgotten what it was like to win the Copa del Rey, in a final that was obviously special. And in terms of this season, it’s important that when we look ahead, we do not see anyone in front of us. I think that’s also important.
IC: for me, this year was about winning the Copa del Rey, which all madridistas had been wanting to win for a very long time. It was also about the leap in quality and dedication that this team had in 2011.
What Pipita is thinking: ¿tienes msn? What the photographer is thinking: I’ll use the presents to cover up Iker’s bright white sneakers. What FP is thinking: mine, all mine. What I’m thinking: how does Mou manage to simultaneously smile and frown?
FP: in 2012, for the club, we want, without any doubts, triumphs and titles. As I’ve always said, Madrid is a club that was born to win, and that’s what all our fans wish for. In addition, this sound economic situation allows us peace and independence as an institution, which in turns helps us to add to the legend of Real Madrid. [With the millions that the club obviously has, couldn’t they have come up with a better Christmas video?]
JM: the best present would be titles, but we can’t promise that. What we can promise is to be serious professionals who respect the history of Real Madrid, and who want to construct a future for Real Madrid. During each day, in each training session, during each game and in each minute, we give it our all. This is what we’ve been doing for a long time now. It’s not obligatory, but obviously we want to do this, to have this professionalism, which allowed us to win the Copa del Rey last year, and to add more titles this year.
IC: in 2012, we hope to exceed ourselves, and to get further than we did last season, which is always good. That is our ambition and our top objective. As the míster said, we’ll do it with professionalism and work hard every day to achieve our objectives.
What Marcelo is thinking: I can’t wait to get back to Crís and Pepe!
SR: at the end of the day, football is always about the titles. And the madridistas always want to win, always want titles. As the míster said, we can’t promise that, but what we can promise are the dedication and sacrifice on a daily basis that will lead to that. We’re going to continue working hard along these lines so that those people who go to the Bernabéu will return home happy, knowing that their footballers gave it everything they had, no matter the result, so that they can go home with their heads held high.
GH: we’ll try to continue along these lines. I believe we’re in the right place this year. People come to the Bernabéu and we want them to enjoy themselves. We’re happy to do that, and as was said earlier, we can’t promise any titles, but we can promise pride and professionalism as we try to win titles in the next year.
MV: yes, basically all that, no? [Jajaja!!!] In 2011, it was about the dedication of all the players on the team. If we continue along these lines, we’ll be good, but like any team, we have to improve each day, during each training session and each game.
What everyone is thinking: Merry Christmas!