Sergio Ramos (2021–…): Season 1, Episode 4 - The Build-up - full transcript

Football is back after lockdown, without the crowds in the stadiums and with a very intense schedule. Real Madrid faces two missions: to make a comeback in the League in order to fight Barcelona for the championship and to make a ...

Ramos is aiming for the draw. With a goal.

Ramos, Neuer.
Ramos, Neuer. Ramos! Too high.

Some people are waiting for you to fail

or to make mistakes
so that they may destroy you,

but that is
my biggest motivation to bounce back.

And I thank the critics
for having been so harsh.

They motivated me and woke up a monster.

THE LEGEND OF
SERGIO RAMOS

WROUGHT IRON

Barça will have three
or four difficult matches.

RANKING - MATCH DAY 28



Three pretty decisive scores, too,

if there was one stage of this Liga final

that could end in defeat for Barça,
this was it.

ALFREDO DI STÉFANO STADIUM

JUNE 18TH
MATCH DAY 29

Everything's ready for the match
at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium.

Real Madrid-Valencia.

When you're fit, you know it.

Because you turn around
and you've outrun the forward,

because you're fast,

you have calculated
the timing perfectly...

There are many details
that make you realize it.

During warm-ups... I often tell Carvajal,

"Today..." I go like this, right?
I breathe and say,



"It smells and tastes great."

IN OUR HEARTS

The first ball is for Valencia.

Dani Parejo is in possession
on the midfield.

Powerful kick and the ball enters
from behind. Goal by Asensio! Goal!

He catches it and makes a pass to Benzema,
on his own. Goal, goal, goal.

Benzema controls it and shoots...
What a goal!

The end. Three-nil, a victory
for Real Madrid. The two goals by Benzema

still leave Real Madrid
two points behind Barcelona...

If we won every game,
we would be champions, we couldn't fail.

Real Madrid is two points behind Barça.

Barça is in the lead with 64 points,
Real Madrid, 62 points.

We will have
a great time in this final stage,

right until the 19th match day.

LaLiga might not be determined
until the last day.

This is a luxury
with what happened in these years.

When you decide
to sign up with Real Madrid,

you accept all of the consequences.

You must fight for all the titles
and the pressure mounts up.

RENÉ
BROTHER AND AGENT

They demand a win.

When we started

we spent a few years
without winning any titles,

we appeared to be nervous,
we hired different coaches...

Thanks, Real Madrid,
for the chance to be a coach in Europe.

We got a new president...

We were not very stable,
generally speaking.

I think this is the right time

for me to step down
as president of Real Madrid.

At some point you start thinking,

and you reconsider,
"God, I've come from Sevilla,

"I've left everything,
it's not happening."

When he started in Real Madrid,

Sevilla won two consecutive UEFAs,
the Europa League.

So he felt a little frustrated.

He left his soccer club and he hadn't
taken part in those victories.

So, our first year was chaotic
and the second one,

it was heading in the same direction.

Thank you so much for being with us.

It's the world's
most important soccer club.

We need to go back
to winning titles again,

just like Madrid has always done.

We generated energy,
we were getting ahead,

fighting until the end.

There was a series of matches
which are worth of a documentary,

because of all the sensations
that we experienced.

And Sergio was now part of the team,
a fundamental part.

All of them join forces

and they really believe
that they can overtake Barcelona.

They were convinced.

How wouldn't we win?
I always thought that.

The day would come.
You have to prepare yourself for that.

If we've already learned from defeat,
imagine when we win.

And Barcelona was losing points
while Madrid didn't lose a single one.

They all carried on and on and on,

until they finally got the title.

That was his first title,
his first championship.

I think he had an outstanding season.

Capello loved a player
with Sergio's drive and strength,

and I think that from that moment on,
he started feeling,

a little more eager to participate,
as well as more important in the team.

All of us who were
in that lineup remember this,

because it took
a lot of effort, a lot of courage,

a big refusal to give up,

and all of this summed up
the values of Real Madrid.

CHAMPIONS

In this battle for the title,
this week will no doubt be decisive.

Today, Real Madrid is facing
a very dangerous rival.

We're successful because we did
many things right.

We've won everything through effort,
through sacrifice,

with a strong identity,

by working very hard during...

Not just at the start of LaLiga,
but through three months of lockdown.

That's when we started to win LaLiga.

JUNE 21ST, 2020
MATCH DAY 30

This match between Real Sociedad
and Real Madrid is about to start.

The first ball will be
for the white and blue team.

Let's see how Madrid does
on their comeback.

Vinícius tries to lose Llorente.

Vinícius feints,
Vinícius has got it... Penalty.

There goes Ramos. Hang on,
Ramos is striking with his right leg.

Ramos feints, Ramos shoots.

Goal, goal, goal, goal.
Madrid is leading right now.

Foul.

I got frightened

because I felt a strong cramp
in my entire leg

and then I thought all sorts of things,

"Not the ligament,
not now that we've just started."

It all piles up.

Ramos clashed his knee
against someone else's.

His knee is going to hurt a while.

When I realized

I couldn't stand on my leg because
I had suffered what we call a "stupefier,"

which practically paralyzes the leg.

I thought it had just been the impact
and that I'd gradually get back to normal

and regain feeling in my leg,
but it wouldn't go away.

He limps away.
Let's see how that left knee is doing.

The impact was so hard,
so abrupt on the nerve

that it practically left me
unable to stand on my leg.

I put ice on it.

I noticed it hadn't moved my knee,

it wasn't the ligament,
and I felt a lot more relieved.

Sergio... It's obvious he has
superior strength.

DAVID ESCRIVÁ "GORRI"
PHYSIOTHERAPIST

He's a beast.

Physically, he is incredible.
He's the captain, he's Sergio...

I mean, people must realize

he'll make something good out of this
and we're still in the game.

Benzema... Goal. Goal.

His biggest struggle is sleeping at night.

And then he has to train.

I think this is the issue
that he still has to work on.

It's very hard for me to sleep
after the matches

because of the adrenaline
and the pressure that we accumulate.

And I end up here, instead of
tossing and turning in bed, thinking

or watching a film or a series,
which I also enjoy,

I come here to paint.

I've always been passionate,
particularly in recent years.

I usually paint my children, my parents...

The first paintings I worked on
are of people who are very close to me.

Especially family.

I like to draw and I always...

I don't know if it's maybe because
I've spent my life surrounded by clothes,

because my parents
have always had a boutique.

My mother is a dressmaker
and this world is very familiar to me.

I've always had
a sewing machine at hand.

I've always made my own dresses,
my suits...

They suggested I design bathing suits

and now I feel very happy
with the results,

this recent collection
I'm working on right now,

is strongly inspired
by women I find powerful

and who convey strength, courage, bravery.

Here we have the fabric samples
for this season.

All the hottest trends.

I choose the fabrics I like the most,

and then I start designing the swimsuit.

I paint the lines as a reference

and from this point,
we start on the painting.

I can change the color
of the child's jacket,

I use one that... I like being inventive.

I enjoy learning.

I like to see the way
everything I do is evolving.

I like things that inspire me.

And I like painting.

I don't want to prove anything.
I don't care about what people say.

I'm not bothered
or interested in opinions.

I paint to disconnect, to escape,

and it makes me rediscover myself
in moments of solitude.

I enjoy my own company.

I love to see him,
he goes, "Look at this color."

I love to see him mixing.

I mean, that sensitive side of him
that I'm gradually discovering

captures my attention,
amuses me and moves me,

and I love the fact
that he enjoys this sort of activity.

If I'd been really terrible at it,

I wouldn't have carried on with it.

I'm not aiming for perfection,
but at least it's got to have...

It must be a reflection of me.
Of my character, my vibe.

She's a very sensitive, inquisitive woman,

with an artistic vein,

and she brings it out through her designs.

I found a little refuge.

I'm so grateful
for these moments of solitude,

of being with my music.
Away from everyone, surrounded by many.

JUNE 24TH, 2020
MATCH DAY 31

The match kicks off.
First ball for Real Madrid.

Luka Modric is playing in the midfield.

A loss could complicate things.
Mendy touches the ball.

Ramos jumps for it, so does Raíllo...
Foul. Handball.

A foul in favor of Real Madrid.
A very dangerous one, at the front.

When I realized it was a foul
not far outside the box,

I thought, "This is my chance."

It's unusual to see
a defender taking free kicks

and assuming this sort of role.

We must make the most of opportunities.

There goes Ramos. He shoots... Goal!

He nailed it.

That was the fruit of his labor,
of the work he does day by day.

We've taken advantage of that kind of play

and that's why we keep making them.

I really like stepping on the area.
I get on well there.

He would have played as center forward.
He always loved to score.

Sergio is a defender
with a center forward's soul.

RAFA NADAL FRIEND

He never gives up.
He is an athlete who, in decisive moments,

will always keep believing until the end.

And that's contagious.

His drive is incredible,

especially in the last minutes,
and he has shown that many times.

ALEJANDRO SANZ FRIEND

He's got the energy,
the drive and the absolute certainty

that, down to the last second,
the match continues.

If there is a match,
Sergio will make the most of it.

JULY 2ND, 2020
MATCH DAY 33

Carvajal cuts back,
he falls down... Penalty.

Penalty on Dani Carvajal.

I like that.

To assume that responsibility
with so much at stake

and it all depends on you.

That risk involved in shooting a penalty

with so much at stake...
For me, that is a very pleasant feeling.

I know that it's a moment of tension

and massive uncertainty, but I like it.

I like feeling that. And I have to score.

Ramos is shooting.
Penalties are his specialty.

Soria tending the goal.
He feints once, twice. Ramos shoots. Goal.

And goal, goal, goal by the top scorer.

A score that places Madrid
four points above Barça.

Real Madrid, one. Getafe, nil.

The team trod that path with firm steps...

JORGE VALDANO
FORMER MANAGER

...but tight scores.

There goes Ramos.

Ramos scores.
Athletic Club, nil. Real Madrid, one.

They adjusted to a different game,
mentally, in particular,

because a match without audience
is a different sort of game.

And they displayed very German virtues.

JULY 13TH, 2020
MATCH DAY 36

Ramon Azeez has the ball, Ramos saves
the line. Sergio Ramos saves on the line.

The defensive security, the balance,
that feeling you give to

and transmit to the top people
is very important.

At the beginning of lockdown,
and when it finished

and we were starting,
I discussed this with some teammates.

That who avoids mistakes
and defends the best will win.

A pass for Mendy... End of the match.

That's how Zinedine Zidane shouts it,

he is close to winning one more Liga
for the white team.

Four points away.
If Madrid defeats Villarreal, they'll win.

We haven't won anything yet,

therefore, we must keep up
with that desire

that we have to win LaLiga.

But we are one step closer,
and we keep going.

Let's be realistic, you won't lift the cup
and you won't touch it until you win.

You don't touch a cup until you win it.

We have a final on Thursday
and another one on Sunday.

If we win both, we'll be champions.

Sergio Ramos. I've seen him.

We always get very nervous
with a match like that,

as important as a final,
and you know that all of his hopes

and enthusiasm are invested
in that hour and a half.

When there's a cool play,
you play some sound effects.

I watch the matches with my friend Carlos
and my brother.

It's a special day because that tension,

or that focus, is experienced by him
on the pitch, on a professional level,

and on a personal level by us, the family.

We are with him, suffering with him

and when we see his face,
we know what's going through his head.

JULY 16TH, 2020
MATCH DAY 37

The white team enters the pitch,
the Madrid ensemble.

Everything ready for the match
that may determine the champion.

- What number is Daddy?
- Four.

Oh. Don't take your shorts off.

In Madrid, the match has just started.

The ball is already rolling here
in Valdebebas.

What a loss by Chakla.
Madrid has the ball, Benzema has it...

- Goal!
- Goal!

With the usual goal by Karim Benzema.

And Ramos is loose.
Ramos enters and there might be a penalty.

- Penalty? Penalty. Oh!
- Penalty.

Penalty on Sergio Ramos.

Ramos goes for the second one.
Ramos is about to shoot.

Ramos hits. Ramos to Benzema.

- Take that! Goal!
- Great!

- Goal!
- Goal! I knew he was going to do that.

- Something's happened.
- Why?

Benzema shot too early.
Way before Ramos' hit.

- Disallowed.
- Goal!

Let's see the penalty.

Benzema's on. Benzema shoots. Goal.

Madrid is reaching for LaLiga
with Karim Benzema's goal.

Real Madrid will be champion.
Benzema... Match over.

Real Madrid is the champion of LaLiga.

They are holding their 34th trophy.

The most honored team
and well-deserving champions.

Congratulations to all Madrid supporters.
Enjoy it wisely, of course.

- Now!
- Now. Hey!

I think it was a Liga to be dedicated
to our country and the world.

To anyone who has lost a loved one,
to anyone who has suffered,

to those who lost a father,
a mother, a grandparent.

We must remember all these people.
Regardless of the team they support,

I think we have had this intention

of dedicating our triumph to all of them.

This was the coronavirus Liga,

there will only be one in history.
And Madrid won it.

2019-2020
CHAMPIONS

Real Madrid lifts
towards the sky its 34th Liga.

Madrid are the champions of LaLiga.

We couldn't go to Cibeles,
but winning is what mattered.

- Confetti!
- Dad, look.

It's LaLiga.

We're the champions
We're the champions

I enjoy it
when things turn out well for him

and when all of the daily effort
he makes at home

and while training pays off,
it's like a family victory.

Here. Come on.

Marco, this way.
Marco. Come on, this way. Come.

I don't have enough time to engage
in things that I would really like to do.

Come on.

Your child saying "I love you..."
Nothing can possibly compare to that.

Come on. Very good, Marco.

Very good, dude.

Kids stir in you some extra sense
you wouldn't have otherwise.

You have an inner button
that only gets pushed when you have kids.

I put my bathing suit on wrong.

Come on.

- Perfect.
- Perfect?

Come on. Going ahead.

You can never deny a smile
to your children.

You can never deny a kiss to them.
That's my concept of education.

I have bad days
but my children shouldn't notice,

like my parents did, so that their bad day
wouldn't be a bad day for me.

And where is Ale, dude?

- In the crib.
- In the crib? Let's wake him up, dude.

I often come home
after shooting the documentary

or done an interview,
or a commercial, they've gone to bed...

And I jump in the bed...
And give them kisses until they wake up.

Hey. Marco. Behave, Marco.

No.

Oh, no.

- Dad.
- What?

- When is the new baby coming?
- Soon.

11 DAYS LATER

Today we have been informed
of the birth of Máximo Adriano.

This is the new baby in the family
of Sergio Ramos and Pilar Rubio.

It's wonderful to be a father again.

The birth of a new child,
my fourth boy, Máximo Adriano...

These are dates
that are branded in your heart.

It's a unique moment.

When you become a father
for the first time and see your child,

you cherish
the tenderness of such a moment.

- Very good.
- He's a brunette.

- He's blond. Look at his hair.
- The hair is dark.

Come on, leave him. He's asleep.

Shall we wrap him in a blanket
and take him home?

Congratulations, Sergio, Pilar.
How are you, Pilar? How did everything go?

Everything went well.

Well, the three kids are very cooperative,

they're very excited and very happy.

We hope Máximo Adriano will behave well.

AUGUST 5TH 2020

At 10:30, the white team, with 24 members,

will set off to Manchester,

but only 23 men will be available,
because Sergio Ramos,

who travels to support his team,
is suspended and won't play.

FIVE MONTHS EARLIER

REAL MADRID VS MANCHESTER CITY
AWAY GAME

I remember we had a great first half.

The local fans are supporting their team.

And as for us, when we faced City,

a marvelous team with a spectacular
strategy devised by Guardiola,

we had three or four clear opportunities
that could have been decisive.

- Corner! Come on!
- A fabulous performance from Real Madrid.

In the end,
the match takes a radical turn.

A foul on me, they don't acknowledge it,
a goal evens the score...

There's the cross,
it goes to the far post...

A goal from City.

You become restless, you're anxious,

the one-one is not good,
you want to win the game,

you leave more spaces open,
your rival takes advantage,

they generate more critical instances,
then comes the most critical play for me.

He leans forward, danger.

Gabriel Jesus moves forward.
It's Gabriel Jesus in the area...

The referee is calling a foul
outside the box.

The damage can be a lot more serious.

Obviously, he did it very well.

He waited, he slightly moved away his leg
in the stride

so that I brushed against him
and the referee...

For now,
Sergio Ramos won't play in the return.

Well, to be honest,
I'm training as though I were playing

because that is the best way
to show your support.

- Go over there.
- Yes.

Luka gives me the ball. He feints,

I go with the ball, throw a pass at Luka.
Luka shoots, you give it to me, I shoot.

- Come on, let's do it. Go.
- Okay?

He's one of the few players

that one may say are vital for the team.

His mentality is outstanding.

At the end of the day,

he has been
a part of the elite for 15 years.

He becomes a better player each year,
which is very difficult.

LUCAS VÁSQUEZ TEAMMATE

As a young player, I wanted
to learn from him and I'm still learning.

RAPHAËL VARANE TEAMMATE

I think that in terms of communication
with the players, with the coach,

he is a great example.

He wants to be with the players...

MARCELO VIEIRA TEAMMATE

...to help his colleagues.
He fights for them, for Madrid's emblem.

TONI KROOS TEAMMATE

He is a leader by nature.

Some leaders build themselves over time
and some Napoleonic leaders

happen to be leaders
because they were born like that.

It's in his blood.

- Okay. We'll continue tomorrow.
- Okay.

That's my intention.

To be there, to train every day,
thinking that I'm going to play.

And if it depended on me...
I dream about it.

That they've forgotten
and they'll let me play. I wish.

TWO DAYS
BEFORE THE RETURN GAME

You gotta give things the importance
that they really have.

Not get obsessed with a mistake,
for instance,

and visualize it
a thousand times to learn. It's done.

You've got to accept it and try to learn.

This is why I like to relish it
on a personal level and in solitude.

I need this bond
I have with nature to disconnect,

to live the way I live.

With neither stress nor pressure,
but the sort of life I have been living.

- Lolo. Hello.
- Hello, sir.

- How are you?
- What's up?

And the horse?

It's eating all right,
it's comfortable and relaxed. It's okay.

When life and soccer allowed me
to set up a ranch

and to raise a herd of horses,
my dream was to be a rancher,

to raise and promote the Spanish horse,
because this animal

is another symbol
that represents us globally.

And Yucatan, it's been the apple of my eye
from the day we decided to buy it.

It has been world champion twice,
we've taken care of it.

Its success is no coincidence.

That's a handsome horse, huh?
It's impressive.

The way he carries himself,
the majestic trotting and galloping.

It's just impressive.
It's so satisfying to see him.

And it's healthy.
It couldn't be healthier.

He has come all the way to Madrid...

He has given me so much.

The results of the horse competitions
are important to us.

I take this very seriously,
I take this very personally

and I hope he has
a good world championship,

because he would be world champion again.

Ultimately, this has been
one of the keys to my success.

My mindset. The mindset
with which I face every single day.

You learn the most
from the difficult moments in life.

They're learning experiences
and moments we have to go through.

You don't go through life always winning.

- I'll come tomorrow.
- Okay. They'll saddle it up early.

Okay. Good, thanks. As per usual.

- Thank you.
- Later.

I've hit rock bottom,

I know what mud tastes like,
and I don't like it at all.

JOSÉ MARÍA FATHER

Not many realize
what the life of a soccer player is like.

It's brutally cruel and tough.

There is no room
for feelings nor tenderness.

When you lose three matches,
you're crucified.

If possible, they would kick out
more than one.

Ramos is aiming for the draw.

SEMIFINAL

Mourinho on his knees.

You have to be prepared.
It's when you suffer the most,

you feel the most lonely,
and you're overwhelmed with self-doubt.

You doubt that you're doing things right,
you wonder if you could have done more,

and you sink into a state
of negative inertia that does you no good.

Some have this ability
to take a step forward.

To say, "I will take the responsibility

"and if I make mistakes,
it's me who made them,

"and if I win, then we all win,
but I have to take responsibility."

There I was.
Again, in a match against Bayern.

To us, it was an extra dose of motivation
to return to have that opportunity.

Of turning things around
after what we'd gone through.

And well, I think we killed it.

Everyone remembers
the Lisbon final, right?

I think that moment
has gone down in history.

We need some rhythm out there.

We have to die out there!
Give it your all.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL 2014

When I think of that match,
I always get goosebumps.

We were losing.

The physios from Atlético de Madrid
were coming out with champagne,

with T-shirts...
The match was practically over,

and in the last five, almost ten minutes,
I moved forward in attack, desperately,

trying to catch a ball
coming from a cross, or...

We had almost lost all hope.

Also the fans at the stadium,
or in front of the television,

because Madrid
had tried to win at all costs.

The only one
who didn't hesitate was Sergio.

Watch out, we'll have another corner kick,
again, in favor of Real Madrid.

Madrid could even the score.
Watch out for the corner.

I didn't see it live.

I was in the stadium, but when
that famous corner happened, I didn't...

I didn't want to see it.

When Luka Modric
was positioned for the corner kick,

I did tell the person who was next to me,
"Sergio will score it."

"What?" I said,
"Sergio will score. But I won't look."

So, I went and sat three rows
behind from where we were sitting.

I lived something
I had never lived in soccer.

I was watching the match,
waiting for the draw.

And people were like, "What if..."
I was with my wife and my children,

and when Modric was positioned,

he kicked the ball,

and I got up with both arms in the air
before Sergio's shot.

Now he puts it right in, there's Modric,
the shot, and goal!

Goal from Madrid! Goal from Madrid!

Goal! Goal from Madrid!

No. Saying "the Lisbon goal"
isn't necessary.

Saying "the goal" is enough.

I think that is
the ultimate goal of my career.

It was crazy, wasn't it?
It was an unforgettable moment.

One of the most important moments
of my life, and it happened in a flash.

It was a tremendous moment for Madrid,
for me.

During that match,
after a goal against us,

I didn't feel 100%.
I felt guilty when facing the fans,

and that's what this is about.

It's a team game,
you collaborate with your teammates

and on the last play,
let's say that we saved the day.

ZINEDINE ZIDANE
REAL MADRID COACH

I was the assistant coach,
and when Sergio scored,

I ran excitedly, really fast.

The end of the match was so lovely.

It's like the last minutes belong

to the greatest players in history.

Few players in the world
live moments like this,

and this is our captain, our leader.

They expected the title.

The whole Madrid universe, our city,
the Bernabéu, our fans worldwide,

and it was an unforgettable moment.

I remember my friends joined me
and we spent

nearly a day and a half there.
Celebrating. Why not?

You take so much care of yourself
and you are so devoted to soccer that...

My wife said, "What can I tell you?"

Nothing happens by chance,

you make your own luck.
And it will happen again.

Tomorrow, or next year,
but it will happen again.

There goes that ball. Bale plays,
the ball is behind. Goal, goal, goal!

Real Madrid, European champions.

Marcelo, Marcelo,
Marcelo puts it behind... Goal!

One sees the end of the finish line
and says, "It's been worth it.

"It has been worth it, giving up
several years of partying with my friends,

"going to bed at 11:00 p.m.,
hitting the gym at 10:00 p.m.,

"spending less time with the family."

Well, that's it. You realize that,
all of this effort that you've invested,

soccer pays it back
with these unique, wonderful moments.

MANCHESTER

Zidane will bet
on an offensive team with leadership.

ONE DAY
BEFORE THE RETURN GAME

Sergio Ramos is suspended.

A game without Ramos would be a miracle.

On matches like the one against City...
It's Ramos and ten more.

I'm one of the oldest players on the team,
I'm the captain.

And above all,
you have to project confidence,

positive energy,
and always remain optimistic.

You have to motivate everyone
to have a great match

and go to the next round.

God, we've just finished training,
we're going to the hotel to have dinner.

Look, look,
this guy is a beast, Toni Kroos, Antonio.

And this one is the worst.

- He's a beast.
- Hi, everybody.

We're very motivated.

If I wasn't
I wouldn't have trained,

I wouldn't have traveled
with the team to Manchester.

In the end, I live off dreams,

and the Champions League
is part of my dream.

MANCHESTER CITY VS REAL MADRID
RETURN GAME

To me, this is the icing on the cake
of this season.

Now, Sterling is running, trying to annoy
Thibaut Courtois and Raphaël Varane.

Careful, watch out... Goal.

Goal from City.
This is what we didn't want to see happen.

It's not the same without Sergio.

We missed him in this match.

His leadership
and his confidence on the pitch.

Watch out... It falls outside.

Rodrygo is up there... Goal!

The only way I thought
I could help was, like, whistling loudly,

telling the defense to go up,
giving colleagues some moral support.

There was a restlessness within me
that I felt I was bursting,

the side of Sergio Ramos
that wanted to go and jump onto the field.

There it is.

Back heading and the goal from City.

Real Madrid is eliminated.

Manchester City qualifies
for the quarter-finals

of this unusual Champions League.

It's always very unpleasant
to be eliminated

in a competition that you love,
which has given you many happy moments.

It's painful.

Everything, both good and bad,
happens so fast

that you must know how to compartmentalize
and give it time.

The following day, you must turn the page,

you must get up
with that desire to go back to work,

with this ambition to win again,
and this is how I face things.