The Portuguese coach highlighted the affect of the vibrant Turk Telecom Arena faithful as los Blancos progressed to the semi-final of the Champions League despite losing 3-2

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has complimented the Galatasaray crowd in the Champions League quarter-final second leg clash between the Spanish and Turkish champions on Tuesday evening.

Los Blancos were entering the match with a three-goal lead from the first leg and even struck early in the second when Cristiano Ronaldo popped up with a strike after just seven minutes.

But a raucous crowd in the Turk Telecom Arena propelled the home side to a 3-1 lead in the second half thanks to a brace from Wesley Sneijder, and an effort from Didier Drogba, and the Portuguese coach has conceded that the home crowd played a part in proceedings.

“[Galatasaray] did not play with 11 men today,” he said. “They played with 50,000 men. In this kind of match we had everything to lose but nothing to gain.”

Despite the home side being on the ascendancy and Madrid looking susceptible to conceding more in the second half, Mourinho denied that he was worried as the match wore on, simply adding: “I had no time to be nervous.”

The former Chelsea and Inter coach then highlighted the importance of looking to the next round in the competition, and insisted that whatever team they face will undoubtedly be a quality opposition.

“Now we have a semi to play, against a great team,” he continued ”We do not know which one yet, but they will be great. It will be hard but now is the time to enjoy ourselves and not to be nervous or afraid.”

Barcelona face Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday evening in the next round of quarter-final fixtures in the Champions League, with Carlo Ancelotti’s men taking a 2-2 draw to Camp Nou for the second leg.

And Mourinho did not mince his words when he was quizzed by journalists on who he thought would win the encounter between the Blaugrana and the French league leaders.

Without giving a prediction on the result, the Portuguese said:“Barcelona or PSG tomorrow? I have some friends in Paris, I don’t have any in Barcelona.”

Juventus take on Bayern Munich on Wednesday evening for the other coveted semi-final place in the Champions League.