Courtois and Chus Mateo Inaugurate White Week at Real Madrid European University Graduate School
“From the outside you always see the grandeur, but until you're inside you don't realize the impact Real Madrid has on world football,” said Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid's goalkeeper, encapsulating the essence of the club's immense influence. Courtois, along with Real Madrid basketball coach Chus Mateo, inaugurated White Week for students at the Universidad Pública Real Madrid Graduate School. The event, moderated by Emilio Butragueño, the Director of Institutional Relations at Real Madrid, featured inspiring speeches and insightful discussions on resilience, professionalism, and the values that define Real Madrid.
Thibaut Courtois: Overcoming Adversity and Embracing Professionalism
Thibaut Courtois, known for his exceptional goalkeeping skills, took center stage to share his experiences and lessons learned throughout his career. Courtois emphasized the importance of resilience, especially in the face of injury. Reflecting on his own challenges, he recounted his emotional struggle after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in August. “Fighting adversity isn't easy, you have to be confident and believe in yourself,” he said. “It's important to be a professional when it comes to work. Many will remember you for your football career, but many others will remember you for the way you conduct yourself on a day-to-day basis.”
Courtois's journey through injury was a testament to his positive mindset and determination. “Above all, you have to be positive. In August I cried because the worst thing that can happen to you in football is the cruciate. When I got home I said I was going to work hard and come back strong. That was my idea from the beginning: stay positive, fight and never give up, find your limits,” he explained. Despite initial doubts about his season, Courtois's unwavering belief in his recovery proved crucial. “Many thought my season was over, but I knew it wasn't.”
The Prestige of Real Madrid
Courtois also spoke about the unique prestige and global impact of Real Madrid. “From the outside you always see the grandeur, but until you're inside you don't realize the impact Real Madrid has on world football. Every year they are fighting to win the Champions League, the club is the best in the world and really when you're inside you see everything. When you move around the world you realize the repercussions,” he noted. This perspective offered students a glimpse into the immense pressure and responsibility of representing such a storied institution.
Memorable Moments
Reflecting on his career highlights, Courtois identified two pivotal moments. “There are two. One is the game against Galatasaray. I made about three saves and built up my confidence. Since then, everything has gone upwards. The second moment was winning the Champions League final against Liverpool. Winning that final with so many saves and being voted man of the match is one of the best moments of my life in football,” he shared. These experiences underscored the importance of confidence and performance under pressure.
Chus Mateo: Quest for Excellence
Before Courtois’s talk, Chus Mateo opened the 2024 White Week by discussing the pursuit of excellence within Real Madrid. Mateo, who leads the basketball team, highlighted the challenges and rewards of managing a club with such high expectations. “I don't think that managing a club like Real Madrid, where the demands are the most demanding, is easy, but I have learned a lot from the people I am with. I like the mix of experience and talent. The important thing is the group. Real Madrid comes first and getting to the Final Four isn't because someone has just been brilliant one day,” he explained.
Real Madrid Values
Mateo also emphasized the core values that define Real Madrid, such as perseverance and a never-give-up attitude. “When you come to this club you realize how huge it is. There are things you don't believe until you're here, like not giving up until the end. This club makes you really fight to the end. I watch Real Madrid football and basketball and these miracles only happen here. There is a certain mystique, but it's the truth. That spirit that surrounds the club, that magic that only happens here. At another club it might happen one day, but here it lasts for a long time,” he said. This unique ethos of relentless pursuit of victory is what sets Real Madrid apart.
Advice for Success
Sharing his wisdom on achieving success, Mateo advised students to work hard and stay committed to their goals without forcing outcomes. “I've worked hard. Failure also makes you grow because I've also lost, and ultimately that shapes you. My advice is not to force things, you have to work, but forcing is no good. Things either come or they don't. You don't have to go crazy, you have to be committed to a path and prioritize what's important. You can't force yourself to get to a place at the end of your career, you either get there or you don't, and once the moment comes, you have to be prepared to accept it,” he advised.
Additional Speakers and Insights
The first day of White Week also featured talks from other notable speakers, including Francisco Panadero, Director of Infrastructures and Asset Development at Real Madrid, who discussed asset development and the added value of assets. Pilar Jericó, President of BeUp and visiting professor from Georgetown, offered insights into essential leadership qualities, emphasizing the importance of visionary thinking and effective management.
The inauguration of White Week at the Real Madrid European University Graduate School by Thibaut Courtois and Chus Mateo provided students with valuable lessons in resilience, professionalism, and the unique values that define Real Madrid. Courtois’s personal anecdotes of overcoming adversity and maintaining a positive mindset, coupled with Mateo’s emphasis on teamwork and perseverance, offered profound insights into what it takes to succeed at the highest levels of sport and beyond. The event underscored the importance of hard work, integrity, and the relentless pursuit of excellence—principles that are central to the ethos of Real Madrid and invaluable to the students who aspire to follow in their footsteps.
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