In search of home miracles
9 April 2013 1:28 AM GMT
Didier Drogba and his Galatasaray teammates have a tough task when they try to overturn a 3-0 deficit against Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday.
Drogba, who won the title last season with Chelsea, will take some cheer from his performance in Saturday’s domestic championship game against Mersin Idman Yurdu when he scored two second-half goals in a 3-1 win.
However, the mood at Galatasaray was soured at that game by coach Fatih Terim’s anger at refereeing decisions in a row which led to him and his two assistants being sent to the stands, overshadowing preparations for Tuesday’s return leg in Istanbul. In Madrid last week, Galatasaray were taught ‘a good lesson’ by the Spanish side, according to Drogba.
‘We’re not at their level but I think it’s a lack of experience more than anything else,’ Drogba told beIN Sport. ‘We’re learning, we’re a young team. There are things that need improving.
‘It’s a good lesson, and one we have to show we’ve learned well in the return leg. We wanted to contain Madrid but we could have done it in a different way, with more audacity and aggression. We could have caused them problems as we had chances but that’s the way it is,’ he said. One of Galatasaray’s biggest headaches is the absence of key striker Burak Yilmaz, who is suspended after picking up a yellow card in Madrid.
Centre back Sergio Ramos and midfielder Xabi Alonso both played the full 90 minutes as they are suspended for Tuesday’s game. ‘It could be that we are in our best form of the season,’ Ronaldo, top scorer in the Champions League this season with nine goals, told reporters. ‘We have a complete squad with all the players available and that is very positive news.’ ‘It’s a tough match three goals is a big lead but we have to go and play good football.’
Drogba, who won the title last season with Chelsea, will take some cheer from his performance in Saturday’s domestic championship game against Mersin Idman Yurdu when he scored two second-half goals in a 3-1 win.
However, the mood at Galatasaray was soured at that game by coach Fatih Terim’s anger at refereeing decisions in a row which led to him and his two assistants being sent to the stands, overshadowing preparations for Tuesday’s return leg in Istanbul. In Madrid last week, Galatasaray were taught ‘a good lesson’ by the Spanish side, according to Drogba.
‘We’re not at their level but I think it’s a lack of experience more than anything else,’ Drogba told beIN Sport. ‘We’re learning, we’re a young team. There are things that need improving.
‘It’s a good lesson, and one we have to show we’ve learned well in the return leg. We wanted to contain Madrid but we could have done it in a different way, with more audacity and aggression. We could have caused them problems as we had chances but that’s the way it is,’ he said. One of Galatasaray’s biggest headaches is the absence of key striker Burak Yilmaz, who is suspended after picking up a yellow card in Madrid.
Centre back Sergio Ramos and midfielder Xabi Alonso both played the full 90 minutes as they are suspended for Tuesday’s game. ‘It could be that we are in our best form of the season,’ Ronaldo, top scorer in the Champions League this season with nine goals, told reporters. ‘We have a complete squad with all the players available and that is very positive news.’ ‘It’s a tough match three goals is a big lead but we have to go and play good football.’
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