Mourinho is determined his side take a lead in Istanbul rather than living on their nerves as they did in the previous round against Manchester United. PHOTO: AFP
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is hoping his goal-shy team rediscover their goalscoring form in the first-leg of their Champions League quarter-final here against Turkish giants Galatasaray tonight.
Cristiano Ronaldo kept up his imperious form with his 43rd goal of the season in Saturday’s 1-1 draw away at Real Zaragoza, but the lack of goals from other areas of the pitch concerns Mourinho.
“Perhaps that is one of the differences this season,” said Mourinho. “Last season with four chances we would score three goals, we were scoring goals with great ease and the only one who has maintained a similar average has been Ronaldo.
“The goals will come. If they don’t arrive tonight, then we hope they will do so in the next game, but it is a reality that we are having some difficulties in scoring goals.”
Mourinho said while some might have felt Galatasaray were one of the easier teams to draw he was not of that opinion.
“This is a team that is used to the Champions League and who not only have two former winners of this competition, (Didier) Drogba and (Wesley) Sneijder, but also players who have played for other top clubs.”
Both Drogba and Sneijder have played under Mourinho at Chelsea and Inter Milan respectively and Sneijder has said he enjoyed the best time of his career under the Portuguese at Inter Milan.
“Mourinho is like a second father to me,” said Sneijder. “He is a very special person for me. As a coach he is incredible, the number one.
The Dutch international also believes that his side have a chance of progressing if they can ensure the tie is still alive for the return leg in Istanbul.
“For us it is very important to arrive at the game in Istanbul with a realistic chance of going through. If we manage to arrive here with the tie still open it would be incredible.”
Malaga out to shock Dortmund
Malaga winger Joaquin Sanchez is promising a big performance from his side tonight as the Spanish side host Borussia Dortmund in their first ever appearance in the Champions League.
“We’ll go out aggressively and look for a result at home, but not even an 8-0 win would allow us to relax in Germany,’’ said Sanchez.
“We’re very happy to enjoy this atmosphere and that the fans can join in, you can sense the club’s dreams everywhere you go here. These are games in which the big teams prove themselves,” the former Spain international told a press conference.”
In last month’s 2-0 second-leg win over Porto, Malaga turned around a tie they were losing by a single goal after the away game and once again showed the good home form that allowed them to top their qualifying group ahead of AC Milan.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2013.
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