Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is sweating on the fitness of several key players, ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg at home to Tottenham Hotspur. On Saturday's Mourinho's nine-year record of not losing a home league match, in different European countries, went up in smoke with a 1-0 defeat against lowly Sporting Gijon. Mourinho's team are eight points behind runaway leaders Barcelona
, and the Portuguese coach has turned his attention to the Champions League.
After the Gijon defeat, he wondered aloud whether he should "ignore the doctors" and field injury victims Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Marcelo, who were sorely missed on Saturday.
In addition, Gonzalo Higuain has only just returned after five months out with a back injury, and looked distinctly rusty when he come off the bench late on against Gijon.
"Against Tottenham," he added, "we will have to see who we have on the field. 0-0 at home would be a good result, 1-1 would not be dramatic, it would leave the tie open. I will talk to the injured players and we will decide whether to risk them or not."
Striker Emmanuel Adebayor is likely to start the game, despite a sluggish display against Gijon, because of Higuain's rustiness and Benzema's injury.
On Sunday the Togo forward said: "I have a lot of respect for Tottenham, they are a great club. We will have a difficult game over there, so we must impose our style at home and score as many goals as possible.
"I hope to score, but the only important thing for me is that Real Madrid goes through to the semi-finals. We must believe in our possibilities."
Adebayor finished by saying that "the support of our fans will be crucial."
Real have not managed to reach the semi-finals since 2003.
Tottenham will travel to Madrid with injury problems of their own, particularly in defence.
Alan Hutton and Jonathan Woodgate will both stay in London, William Gallas is touch-and-go. In addition, wingers Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon are both doubtful.
Even so, England defender Michael Dawson said on Sunday that Spurs a hoping for a repeat of their shock 1-0 win away to AC Milan in the round of 16.
"We're all excited," he said. "I remember before the AC Milan tie that everyone was saying they were going to the biggest games in the club's history and we did well to get through. Now we face Real Madrid."
"It will be a fantastic occasion but we'll go there knowing that we've got to do the same job that we did in Milan and that's to make sure we're still in the tie in the second leg at White Hart Lane."
Midfielder Luka Modric said: "This year has been great for us. It's the biggest game in the Champions League for us this year. Madrid are the favourites but we have shown how to play against favourites and we will play well against them."
, and the Portuguese coach has turned his attention to the Champions League.
After the Gijon defeat, he wondered aloud whether he should "ignore the doctors" and field injury victims Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Marcelo, who were sorely missed on Saturday.
In addition, Gonzalo Higuain has only just returned after five months out with a back injury, and looked distinctly rusty when he come off the bench late on against Gijon.
"Against Tottenham," he added, "we will have to see who we have on the field. 0-0 at home would be a good result, 1-1 would not be dramatic, it would leave the tie open. I will talk to the injured players and we will decide whether to risk them or not."
Striker Emmanuel Adebayor is likely to start the game, despite a sluggish display against Gijon, because of Higuain's rustiness and Benzema's injury.
On Sunday the Togo forward said: "I have a lot of respect for Tottenham, they are a great club. We will have a difficult game over there, so we must impose our style at home and score as many goals as possible.
"I hope to score, but the only important thing for me is that Real Madrid goes through to the semi-finals. We must believe in our possibilities."
Adebayor finished by saying that "the support of our fans will be crucial."
Real have not managed to reach the semi-finals since 2003.
Tottenham will travel to Madrid with injury problems of their own, particularly in defence.
Alan Hutton and Jonathan Woodgate will both stay in London, William Gallas is touch-and-go. In addition, wingers Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon are both doubtful.
Even so, England defender Michael Dawson said on Sunday that Spurs a hoping for a repeat of their shock 1-0 win away to AC Milan in the round of 16.
"We're all excited," he said. "I remember before the AC Milan tie that everyone was saying they were going to the biggest games in the club's history and we did well to get through. Now we face Real Madrid."
"It will be a fantastic occasion but we'll go there knowing that we've got to do the same job that we did in Milan and that's to make sure we're still in the tie in the second leg at White Hart Lane."
Midfielder Luka Modric said: "This year has been great for us. It's the biggest game in the Champions League for us this year. Madrid are the favourites but we have shown how to play against favourites and we will play well against them."
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