Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has insisted history will count for nothing as his side bid to win at Bayern Munich for the first time in Tuesday's Champions League semi-final, first-leg.
In the previous nine meetings between Real and Bayern in Munich, the Germans have recorded eight wins and a single draw in European competition since the teams first met back in 1976.
The last time they clashed in the Champions League five years ago, Bayern won the Round of 16 clash on away goals after it finished 4-4 on aggregate following Bayern's 2-1 win in Munich and Madrid's 3-2 victory in Spain.
But Mourinho says previous records and statistics will mean nothing come kick-off as Real arrive in Munich having scored 107 goals in the Spanish league this season with midfield star Cristiano Ronaldo having netted 41 of them.
"These are historical figures, history doesn't count tomorrow, the match will have nothing to do with what has gone before," said the 49-year-old who once famously dubbed himself 'The Special One' while at Chelsea.
"The results that have gone before don't count. This is a semi-final, everyone wants to get through, you have to have the right motivation.
"Bayern have that as they want to play the final here.
"This is the second time we have been in the semis for two years, so we want to do well too."
Having been denied a place in last season's Champions League final by eventual winners Barcelona, Mourinho wants victory in Munich to set up his side for the return leg at Madrid's Bernabeu on April 25.
Either Barcelona or Chelsea await in the final which will be hosted at Munich's Allianz Arena on May 19.
"We have nothing to lose, the only thing we can loss is the Copa del Rey (the Spanish Cup), we can't defend that title anymore and can concentrate on the other competitions," he said with his team four points ahead of Barcelona in La Liga.
"The Spanish League and Champions League are still there for us, so that is what we will focus on and that is what we are going for."
The former Chelsea boss is too street-wise not to pay Bayern Munich due respect and was said his team will need to be wary of the home side bidding to reach the final at their own stadium.
"They are a very strong institution, they are a strong club with great institutional powers. They are a big opponent for us," said Mourinho, who won the 2010 title with Inter Milan when they beat Bayern in the Madrid final.
"They have flair players, who can really show some great talent, but you have to see them as a collective, they have grown as a team.
"(Former Dutch coach) Louis van Gaal was very important for this, he steered them to the final two years ago and they are in the hands of another great coach in Jupp Heynckes.
"They have shown they deserve to be here and will want to reach the final."
With an attacking line boasting the likes of Ronaldo, France's Karim Benzema and Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain, as well as Germany's play-maker Mesut Ozil, Real could be considered favourites to reach the final, but Mourino refused to be drawn.
"No, everyone has their opinion about who are favourites," he said.
"Some people make Bayern favourites, some people talk about them being our bogey team, we will have to wait and see what happens."
Source: AFP
