Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho will face off against two of his former players in Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba when the Spanish side take on Galatasaray in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
The first leg at the Bernabeu will be crucial for both sides; with Galatasaray clean to score at least one away goal, while Real look to finish off the tie within the first 90 minutes.
"It is important we score the goals to win this game, and who does that is not important," Mourinho said. "When you have great players you always expect big things of them.
"We have our objectives for tomorrow but so do they. I want to win, they want to win. Sneijder and Drogba have been important players for me in the past but tomorrow (Wednesday) they will be my friends, not players in my team.
"Drogba was a great player for me, a great friend and someone that will stay in my life forever. We created emotional links that go beyond football. Galatasaray have a great coach (Fatih Terim) with experience at this level and so he feels comfortable. He is not afraid of playing here.
"He has players who have played in the best teams in the world, players who are calm when it comes to the quarter-finals of this competition. Drogba, Sneijder and Burak (Yilmaz) could play for any team in the world."
Mourinho admitted Real were desperate to reach the semifinals of the competition and from there possibly the final as they chase that elusive tenth European crown.
"There is no bigger motivation than getting to a semifinal," he added. "The only motivation that beats it is to get to the final. We know the history of Madrid in this competition. We also know that recently Madrid have not had so much success.
"I do not see my team better (or worse) than last year. There were very few things we could have improved on after going out in the semifinals last season."
Real do not have any injury worries, with Iker Casillas again left out, despite returning to training from a thumb injury. Galatasaray will be without Engin Baytar and Aydin Yilmaz, but Johan Elmander has been included in the squad.
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Expected lineups: Real Madrid: Diego Lopez; Arbeloa, Varane, Ramos, Coentrao; Khedira, Alonso; Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo; Higuain.
Galatasaray: Muslera; Eboue, Kaya, Nounkeu, Riera; Altintop, Melo, Inan; Sneijder; Drogba, Yilmaz.
Prediction: 3-1 to Real Madrid
