The Odessa Cat wants Madrid up to scratch against Kiev
Real Madrid coach Mariano Garcia Remon will turn the clock back when the Spanish giants face Dynamo Kiev in their Champions League group B match on Tuesday.
Real Madrid coach Mariano Garcia Remon will turn the clock back when the Spanish giants face Dynamo Kiev in their Champions League group B match on Tuesday.
The former Real goalkeeper gained his widely-known nickname The Odessa Cat after an outstanding game to keep a clean sheet in a famous match against the Ukrainian side in the 1973 European Cup quarter-finals.
"The game wasn't actually in Kiev because of the weather otherwise I might have been called something different," joked the usually sombre Garcia Remon.
"But looking back, I'm glad people remember it because it was possibly the best game I ever had in my 15 years as a Real player."
Now Garcia Remon will be looking for some of his players to rise to the occasion in similar fashion.
"Historically, Dynamo teams are difficult to beat, well organised, and their recent results confirm their ability. Tuesday's game will be tough, you can be sure of that," added Garcia Remon.
Kiev have got draws on their last two visits to the Santiago Bernabeu, during the 1999 and 2000 Champions League campaigns.
Dynamo also stand on top of group B, having beaten Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 and been awarded the abandoned match again Roma.
By contrast, Madrid come into the match having not won in their last three Spanish league outings although they looked more impressive when beating Roma 4-2 in the Champions League three weeks ago, despite having to come from two goals down.
Garcia Remon has several players facing last-minute fitness tests which could severely effect the names of those players who take the field against Kiev.
The versatile Spanish international Jose Maria Gutierrez suffered a left thigh strain in Real's 1-1 draw at Real Betis on Saturday and it might be Albert Celades who accompanies Ivan Helguera in the midfield.
"This is going to be the most difficult game of this group. They (Kiev) have gone up to another level this year. Beating Bayer the way they did isn't easy," commented Helguera ominously on Sunday.
Injuries to David Beckham and Santiago Solari mean that former World Player of the Year Zinedine Zidane is likely to be found out on the left wing.
Michael Owen's heroics in an England shirt last week have made little impact on Real's new coach and the former Liverpool player is expected to start the game on the Bernabeu bench once again, as he has done ever since Garcia Remon took over last month.
However, Garcia Remon's biggest worry will be his back four.
Summer signing Walter Samuel is suspended which could mean a recall for Raul Bravo to the centre of the defence, an area that remains Real's weakest link.
Right back Michel Salgado is struggling to be fit after twisting his right ankle on international duty last week which means reserve Alvaro Arbeloa could start his first game for Real.
Dynamo coach Joszef Szabo will be a happier man than his opposite number as Valentin Belkevich, Serhiy Fedorov and Denis Onischenko are all available after injuries.
Brazilian striker Diego Rincon, who scored two of Dynamo's goals against Leverkusen, is much more settled after getting a new contract.
Latvian international Maris Verpakovskis also showed he's on form with both of Dynamo's goals in their 2-1 victory at FC Volyn Lutsk on Saturday, which saw them reach the last four of the Ukrainian Cup.