Source:REUTERS/Brian Snyder
[Saba Sports News] According to Spanish media reports, since Real Madrid beat Atalanta on August 15 to win the Super Cup, to their semi-final loss against Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup on July 10 this year, the club has endured nearly a year of grueling schedule, during which they had only 40 days of rest. In that period, the team played 68 official matches, plus three exhibition games in the US. On July 10, Real Madrid ended what may be the most exhausting season in their history. They unprecedentedly participated in seven competitions: the Super Cup, La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the Champions League, the Supercopa, the Intercontinental Cup, and the Club World Cup. This pursuit of glory ultimately left wounds that needed healing. The dressing room did not ignore this massive exhaustion; to compensate the players, the club set up a season-end bonus during the Club World Cup. If they won, the club would pay 1 million euros, plus 500,000 euros already received from previous titles like the Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup. Although this financial compensation could not replace rest, it sent a clear message that the club values every minute of effort, every sacrifice, and every hard-fought match. The Club World Cup brought more than 80 million euros in revenue for Real Madrid.