Florentino Perez, Jose Mourinho and Iker Casillas has reflected on the calendar year of 2012 and what it has meant to them at Real Madrid.
It hasn’t ended well, with Casillas being dropped for the first time in a decade at the club by Mourinho for the final game of the year, which in defeat at Malaga has left the team 16 points adrift of League leaders Barcelona.
However, 2012 did bring Madrid a first League title for four years and a Supercopa de Espana.
“The best thing this year has been the sporting successes, in both football and basketball, but also the financial and institutional stability of the club,” reflected President Perez in a message posted on the club’s official website today.
“This has been possible thanks to the support and togetherness of the Real Madrid supporters, which are the most important things this club has.
“Christmas has always been a time to cherish because we spend it with friends and family. It is also a time to reflect because of the passing of my wife and a time to think about those who are experiencing a hard time since we are all aware that the current situation it not easy at all.”
Meanwhile, Mourinho, who became the first Coach in 2012 to win League titles in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain, reflected on the value of the holiday season too.
“It is time to be with your family, especially for my family since we have been away from home for nine years and Christmas is the only opportunity we have to be with our closest family,” the Portuguese mused.
“The best thing has been watching my children grow up happy and healthy and to know I have a fantastic family and that those family members in Portugal are all healthy and waiting to enjoy Christmas with us.
“In professional terms, we won La Liga this year, which was something I hadn’t achieved before, and it was one of the club’s main objectives for 2012.”
Casillas also had a memorable year on a professional level, combining the domestic success with his club with captaining Spain to the Euro 2012 title in the summer.
“Above all I remember the League title, which was very difficult after so many years,” Casillas reflected.
“This is the path that we must follow and enjoy winning a difficult and hard championship during which many records were broken and we experienced some very good times, such as winning at the Camp Nou with four or five matchdays left, when we practically decided the League title.
“It is a time to share with your loved ones, and enjoy and share anecdotes that you have from 2012. It is also a good launching pad for starting 2013 in the best way possible.
“On a personal level, 2012 has brought us very interesting and beautiful memories and I hope the successes of 2012 are repeated next year.”
