Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane has already made 280 appearances for Los Blancos, yet he remains determined to win even more trophies at the club.
Last season saw Madrid lose their stranglehold on the Champions League, having won it in four of the previous five years, and it is clear that the Frenchman is determined to win it again this year.
"For Madrid, the Champions League is something very special," Varane said at Los Blancos' pre-match press conference.
"For me personally, it motivates me a lot. I believe that it is the hardest competition to win at club level and it excites a lot of people.
"We want to win everything, but the Champions League is very special."
Over the summer Madrid saw a handful of players arrive with a few departing, although Varane does not view this current period as a transition phase.
"At Madrid, we are competitive and there shouldn't be any transition years," he noted.
"There have been changes, but the objective remains the same, always respecting the opponent."
Los Blancos will be without Sergio Ramos and Nacho Fernandez due to suspension on Wednesday night, so Varane will play alongside new signing Eder Militao at centre-back, something he is not fazed by.
"He is a great player, everyone respects him because he deserves it, but we have to know that we are without a few players and must adapt," Varane added.
"Nobody is going to play every game and we have to respond [when someone is missing]."
Madrid are the Champions League's most successful team, having won 13 European Cups, yet Varane - who has won four Champions Leagues himself - provided a simple explanation as to why they have been able to do so.
"Believing and the little details," Varane responded when asked about what it takes to win the Champions League.
"We've done something that no one could have imagined [winning three straight Champions Leagues from 2016 to 2018, and four in five years between 2014 and 2018], and it's a cluster of many things."
Chetanya850
0
La liga is the hardest because it needs consistency
he didn't include leagues he said competition
Momadridista3
3
La liga is the hardest because it needs consistency
NtokozoKotamisa
0
Twin six defensive midfielder to hold those guys
RudroIA
0
To be honest guys think the league is harder demands more consistency
you play against difficult teams in cl.also losing one match in knockout is disastrous.in league you can always come back losing 2 or 3 matches.
AlexTouthang7
0
To be honest guys think the league is harder demands more consistency
Both are hard in their own way... Leagues require a team to be more consistent... In Champions League, you screw up a game or two, you're knocked out... In a league, you screw up 3 games and you can still make it up for it in the next 10 games...
NFK97
3
To be honest guys think the league is harder demands more consistency
Mo-mujahid
1
Best Varane #4
EgohRomeo11999
3
Hala Madrid can't wait for you guys to win it again but deep inside me I don't nid that trophy anymore I want us to now dominate La Liga I want us to start taking La Liga back since de arrival of Messi we haven't won it the way we have too so I nid more league than champions league now not that I no don't nid Champions League but we are already king of Europe till de day a team will beat our record there before I can say we aren't now I nid La Liga more Am hurry for more league titles Real Madrid hala Madrid am sure I have spoke some Madridstars mind now 🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸
Hacker65
5
Yeah thats the point the fans expect too much from their team without knowing how much they practice... Its better to have hope than expecting too much
Celtic2167
0
It's the hardest to win if your not a first seed, because you have a by past the groups and usually get an easy draw in the Round of 16, so your real test starts in March in the Quarterfinals, unlike teams like Ajax who have a real test from the beginning in August