Rodrygo, Ancelotti and Courtois spoke after clinching the trophy, underscoring that Madrid has a habit of turning immediate celebrations into fuel for the next challenge.
That habit isn’t new. Real Madrid already programs its mindset around the idea that every title creates a new target. The club’s culture blends winning instinct with relentless ambition, so the stop button rarely gets pressed after a trophy is in hand. A European Cup victory usually marks a moment, but not a relief; it becomes a springboard toward the next season. This is more than routine for the squad; it is part of the fabric that defines the club’s identity, where triumphs are followed quickly by plans for another conquest rather than a long, quiet celebration.
Madrid had not staged a Copa del Rey final in nine seasons, yet with the first leg of the Champions League semi final against Manchester City looming on Tuesday, there was no time set aside for a grand fiesta. Last night, fans gathered at Cibeles to honor the club’s twentieth Copa del Rey, but the players stayed focused. After a late dinner at the team hotel in Seville they returned to Madrid on Sunday morning, resuming training in the afternoon to prepare for the pivotal clash ahead.
Thibaut Courtois, who starred in Paris and enjoyed a relatively quiet evening against Osasuna thanks to a solid defensive display led by Carvajal, offered his view on how to celebrate the title. He spoke about the broader objective and the need to keep eyes on the roadmap ahead. “We are professionals. A major challenge awaits in the Champions League against a top opponent who has performed at a high level in recent months. The best way to celebrate could be to win on Tuesday and share that moment with our fans there,” he said, signaling that the real prize remains the imminent game and the support of the away crowd could become a catalyst.
Rodrygo, named MVP of the match, brought his own sharp perspective to the podium. Even at 22, he has already collected every major honor Real Madrid can offer. He acknowledged the significance of the trophy but quickly shifted focus to what lies ahead. “Today we won a special title, yet our minds move fast. We plan to rest where possible, because Tuesday could prove to be the season’s most decisive game. The mindset must be to always crave more and to push toward the next milestone,” he stated, reflecting the player’s blend of achievement and hunger for further glory.
Ancelotti, calm and composed as ever, extended his praise to the squad while looking forward with his trademark pragmatism. He highlighted the achievement of winning every major trophy available in two seasons, then reminded everyone of Madrid’s ongoing demand. “What we achieved tonight is important. We won every possible title in two seasons, and now the focus turns to the next match. The Madrid faithful deserve another top performance on Tuesday,” he asserted, before adding a direct rallying message for the team: the objective is to seize the upcoming challenge and keep the standard high.
In the immediate days that follow, the club’s plan remains clear. Rest is balanced with recovery, and the squad is geared toward the high-stakes Champions League fixture that could tilt the season’s final chapters. The Copa del Rey success sits as a milestone, a reminder of Madrid’s capacity to win across competitions, but the narrative is consistently forward looking. The next phase demands a sustained level of excellence, a willingness to adapt game by game, and the belief that continued success is earned through discipline, preparation, and unity. The focus is not on past achievements alone but on the ongoing pursuit of greatness that defines Real Madrid’s ethos.