Real Madrid News

The ex-Chelsea star is relishing the trip to Spain where he made his Champions League debut, and says the Portuguese and Turkish boss share similar coaching methods

Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba has remarked that coach Fatih Terim takes a similar approach to Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho when it comes to motivating his players.

The Cote d’Ivoire star played under the Portuguese trainer when he was in charge of the Blues between 2004 and 2007 and he believes they are similarities between him and current boss Terim.

“I have a lot of memories of him [Mourinho],” the 35-year-old was quoted as saying by the club’s official magazine.

“He’s always in the spotlight and he looks out for everyone. He tries to get the best out of every individual. Fatih Terim is like Mourinho in that respect. He’s close to the players.”

Drogba then reflected on his Champions League debut against Madrid in 2003, where he scored a goal for his former side Olympique Marseille in their 4-2 loss at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“The Bernabeu game will be very special for me. I played my first Champions League match there against the Madrid ‘galacticos’,” he continued.

“I scored my first goal, even though we lost 4-2 – it was in the group stages of the 2003-2004 campaign with Marseille. I’ll never forget that day. It was very important for my career.”

Galatasaray are currently preparing for their trip to Madrid on April 3, kick off is at 20.45CET.

The Turkish striker is looking forward to playing against the Portuguese star in the upcoming clash, and believes his side will go all the way in the competition if they beat Real

Galatasaray striker Burak Yilmaz has spoken about his admiration for Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the Champions League first-leg quarter-final tie between the sides.

Burak and Ronaldo both top the top-scorer list of the tournament with eight goals, and the Turkey star is delighted at the prospect of facing the Liga legend on Wednesday.

“I admire him and am very proud to be competing against him, if only a little,” the 27-year-old told AS.

“Playing against him is an incomparable sensation.”

The forward is also certain that if his team can brush aside Jose Mourinho’s men, they will go all the way in the competition.

“I am sure that if we eliminate Madrid, who are an extremely difficult opponent, then we can win the Champions League. Our potential will soon live up to these expectations,” he added.

“Our team has great chemistry, we believe in ourselves and always give 100 per cent. And we will do so at the Bernabeu.”

Galatasaray travel to the Santiago Bernabeu to face Real Madrid on Wednesday, April 3, 20.45CET.

The attacking midfielder feels the Portuguese trainer is arguably the best in the world and has hailed the Madrid coach’s influence on his career

Galatasaray playmaker Wesley Sneijder has voiced his admiration for Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho ahead of the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.

The Netherlands international worked with Mourinho at Inter in the 2009-10 campaign when they won Serie A, the Champions League and Coppa Italia, and Sneijder has nothing but praise for his former boss.

“Mourinho is like a second father to me. He is a powerhouse. In football we have powerhouses who are players, and ever since I met Mourinho, we can say that there are powerhouses who are coaches. And he certainly is, without any doubt at all,” Sneijder told Marca.

“He is a very special person for me. As a coach he is incredible, No.1. It was he who gave me confidence, and I enjoyed playing football like never before. And as a person he reaches you much more than in his role as coach. Mourinho is a friend.

“It’s not easy to explain. You have to be with him to find out just what he is like. The key to him is how he convinces you, how he helps you if things aren’t going well for you.

“He is on top of everything and always knows how to help a player, sometimes doing one thing, sometimes another, but whatever he does it is for the good of the club, the player and the person.”

Wednesday’s match at the Santiago Bernabeu is scheduled to kick off at 20:45CET.

The prolific striker has been in impressive form in recent weeks, but he has insisted that the Liga star is still on another level

Galatasaray striker Burak Yilmaz has hailed Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, and laughed off suggestions that he is on a par with the Portugal captain.

Burak has been one of the revelations of the 2012-13 Champions League campaign, netting eight goals in as many appearances, yet he feels he still has a long way to go before he’s on the same level as his fellow Champions League top scorer.

“A lot of people are comparing me to Ronaldo. However, my team-mates nor myself are making such a comparison,” the striker told reporters.

“He is a huge star. It would be cocky to compare myself to him. He is one of the best players in the world. I am already proud to be competing with him. I’m very excited to lock horns with him.”

The 27-year-old has been in fine form in recent weeks, scoring four goals in his last two games for Galatasaray as well as Turkey’s 1-1 draw with Hungary last week.

The Portuguese coach has reached the last four on six previous occasions, and can draw level with the Manchester United boss if his Real Madrid side get past Galatasaray this time

ANALYSIS
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Writer

Jose Mourinho will draw level with Sir Alex Ferguson on seven semi-final appearances in the Champions League if his Real Madrid side get past Galatasaray in their forthcoming last-eight tie.

Mourinho led Madrid to the last four of Europe’s premier club competition in each of his first two seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu, and his team will be big favourites to advance for a third time in a row. Real host Galatasary on Wednesday before travelling to Istanbul for the return leg next Tuesday.

MOST SEMI-FINAL APPEARANCES IN THE EUROPEAN CUP/CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
CoachSir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United) Jose Mourinho (Porto, Chelsea, Inter, Madrid) Marcello Lippi (Juventus) Miguel Munoz (Real Madrid) Louis van Gaal (Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern) Carlo Ancelotti (AC Milan) Vicente del Bosque (Real Madrid) Pep Guardiola (Barcelona) Helenio Herrera (Inter) Ottmar Hitzfeld (Dortmund, Bayern Munich) Giovanni Trapattoni (Juventus, Bayern)	No. of SFs 7 – ’97, ’99, ’02, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’11 6- ’04, ’05, ’07, ’10, ’11, ’12 5 – 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003 5 – 1960, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1973 5 – 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2010 4 – 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 4 – 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 4 – 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 4 – 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 4 – 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001 4 – 1978, 1983, 1985, 1995

Madrid are still aiming for their 10th trophy – La Decima – in the history of the European Cup and the Champions League, while Mourinho has admitted he hopes to become the first coach to win the coveted crown with three different clubs.

The Portuguese made his Champions League debut in 2001-02, when he took over midway through the season at Porto, but won the competition in his first full tilt at the title, in 2003-04 (having won the Uefa Cup in 2002-03).

That turned out to be his only Champions League semi-final appearance at Porto as he moved on to Chelsea that summer. And he took the Blues to the cusp of European glory, losing out at the semi-final stage in both 2005 and 2007. On each occasion it was Liverpool who got the better of his side, with the Reds benefiting from Luis Garcia’s ‘phantom’ goal on the way to the trophy in 2005 and then advancing on a penalty shootout two years later.

Mourinho left Chelsea shortly into the following season and did not return until the next campaign, when he agreed to coach Inter. His first season in Milan ended with a Serie A title, but disappointment in Europe as the Nerazzurri exited to Manchester United in the last 16. However, the Portuguese led the Italians to treble glory in 2009-10, as they claimed the Scudetto, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League – Inter’s first success in Europe’s premier club competition since 1965.

That was Mourinho’s second Champions League victory and his fourth semi-final in the competition. With two more since added, he can now equal Ferguson with seven last-four appearances.

All of Ferguson’s semi-final showings have come in his remarkable 26-year tenure at Manchester United. The 71-year-old Scot has led the English side to two Champions League wins, as well as two further final appearances (both lost to Barcelona). Defeats in his other three semi-finals (in 1996-97, 2001-02 and 2006-07) also all came against the competition’s eventual winners – Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and AC Milan, respectively.

Mourinho, meanwhile, lost his last two semi-finals against Barcelona (in 2010-11) and Bayern Munich (last season). Either of those two teams could await in the last four this time around.

And should he have got that far, he will have equalled Ferguson’s record for last-four appearances in the competition, having already overtaken a string of illustrious coaches. And given he is over 20 years younger than the Manchester United boss, Mourinho is probably just getting started.

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