Ramos wary of dangerous Galatasaray

Posted Monday, March 25, 2013 by Foxsports.com

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos admits his side cannot afford to take Galatasaray lightly when both teams clash in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Galatasaray edged out Schalke 4-3 on aggregate in the round of 16 to reach the quarterfinals of the competition for the first time since 2001, while Real overcame current Premier League leaders Manchester United 3-2 on aggregate.

Los Blancos are favourites to progress into the semi-finals of the Champions League, with many not giving Galatasaray much hope of beating the Spanish giants.

However, Ramos insists his side cannot take it easy against Galatasaray, especially with the Turkish outfit having strengthened significantly during the January transfer window with the signings of striker Didier Drogba and playmakers Wesley Sneijder.

"One should never estimate any team," Ramos was quoted as saying by the official Real website.

"They have all had to earn the right to get where they are. Some may have knocked out teams that started as favourites.

"That we have drawn Galatasaray is not a stroke of luck by any means; on the contrary, they are a pretty strong team and the fact is that they are stronger now with the signings of Drogba and Sneijder.

"These are world-class players and are key elements in the team.

"But the real danger is always the group, the collective, never the individual player.

"One player does not stand out from all the rest if the collective effort is good.

"So we have to respect Galatasaray, try to keep a clean sheet at home and score away goals because I am sure that things will be difficult over there on their home turf."

Ramos also praised his side's unity and strength of character to recover from their poor start to the season.

"I think after a poor start to the season we have closed ranks as a group more than ever and we have drawn on our stronger will to win, our optimism and our ambition to keep improving and do things as well as we can," Ramos mused.

"The results speak for themselves.

"Of course we are not going to fire off any skyrockets yet because nothing is guaranteed and in the bag.

"Mind you, it is true that our hard work has begun to pay off with a reward such as reaching the final of the Copa del Rey."

Real's next fixture sees them take on Real Zaragoza in the La Liga.