Michael Essien says he is confident Real Madrid have the quality to see off Galatasaray in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
The Chelsea loanee has stressed that the Turkish champions should not be underestimated, but is nonetheless optimistic about Madrid's chances of making it to the last four.
"We have been playing well recently, and more importantly scoring goals, and we hope to keep it that way against Galatasaray," Essien said to The Sport Review.
"The squad is always ready for the big games and this is no different.
"They are an experienced side with Champions League winners in their side so they will pose problems, but as long as we stick to our game-plan, I am confident we can go through."
Essien is already looking further ahead than Galatasaray, though, and is determined to go all the way in the competition.
He continued: "Of course we understand the desire of the fans to win the 10th European cup. It's not only the fans who want it, the players, the management and the whole club want to win.
"The coach wants a third one, I want my second one [back to back], those who haven’t won it before want to taste it for the first time and so on.
"Real Madrid want to be at the top and winning the Champions League is one way of being at the top."
Madrid last won the Champions League in 2001-02 when they beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1.
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