During the renovation of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium this season, Real Madrid has specifically concentrated the display of the 15 UEFA Champions League trophies the club has won in its history in the tunnel where home and away players enter the stadium after getting off their buses.
This design is widely regarded as having a strong psychological intimidation purpose – Real Madrid aims to leverage its glorious historical achievements to exert pressure on visiting players even before the game kicks off, achieving the effect of "gaining the upper hand with a preemptive psychological advantage".
In the dedicated display cabinets set up in this tunnel, the 15 Champions League trophies are prominently arranged and displayed. This arrangement is by no means accidental, nor is it merely for aesthetic or decorative purposes – though it is indeed visually striking. More crucially, these trophies have starkly different psychological impacts on players from both sides: for Real Madrid players, they symbolize glory and tradition, and every time they pass by, it strengthens their sense of identity and boosts their confidence; for opponents, however, this is undoubtedly a silent yet powerful "intimidation", reminding them that they are about to face the most successful and prestigious club in European football – the true "King of the Champions League".
This is not the first time Real Madrid has used trophy displays as a way to shape the club’s image. For a long time, the club has highlighted its Champions League honors on numerous occasions. For example, President Florentino Pérez always takes a photo with each new trophy in the presidential box area when it is placed in the cabinet – a ritual that has almost become a traditional part of every post-title celebration. Additionally, every newly signed player usually takes a photo with the club president in front of these trophies when making their official debut at the Bernabéu, allowing them to integrate into the club’s championship culture from the very start.
Today, these 15 trophies are also displayed in the newly renovated museum at the Bernabéu, which is open to the public and fans. This further transforms Real Madrid’s glorious European achievements into perceivable and communicable brand assets.
