Thomas Tuchel believes Sergio Ramos will be recalled by Zinedine Zidane and play in Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Chelsea.
The Premier League team have a narrow advantage after a 1-1 draw in Spain just a week ago, with Christian Pulisic’s away goal tilting the balance in their favour.
Chelsea’s remarkable defensive record under Tuchel will be put to test, but their hopes of putting the tie beyond the La Liga giants, are likely to be rendered even tougher if Ramos return for the first time since March 13.
Fellow defenders Ferland Mendy and Raphael Varane are also huge doubts, but regardless of their situations, Tuchel expects Ramos to start the game for his club.
He said: ‘Does Ramos play or not? This is a tough question because I simply don’t know it. We will see after the training today and when they give the line-up tomorrow.
‘Does it change for Real Madrid? Yes, a lot. It’s the captain, it’s the captain of the most successful team in Europe in the last years, it changes a lot.
‘We cannot lose our heads about this decision. I think he will start we will prepare for that and we have to make sure he cannot do it alone.’
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Despite having been considered as outsiders to win the competition upon his appointment as Frank Lampard’s successor, meanwhile, Tuchel says Chelsea should not harbour any inferiority complex tomorrow.
He added: ‘The main lesson is that we can trust ourselves and the main lesson is that we have all the right to be in the semi-final.
‘We should be self-confident and have no fear to face this challenge because we deserve to be here and we can perform on this level. This is the main lesson.’
