Adebayor underlines Madrid ambition

Emmanuel Adebayor said the eagerness to win the UEFA Champions League this season was "etched on the face of every player at the club" as Real Madrid CF stepped up preparations for Wednesday's round of 16 decider against Olympique Lyonnais.

Rewind 12 months, and Madrid's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in six seasons were ended by the Gones, who advanced 2-1 on aggregate after following up their first-leg win with a draw in the Spanish capital. This time around the advantage lies with a Madrid side looking to build on the 1-1 draw gained in the first leg three weeks ago.

"This is such an important game for us as we desperately want to reach the quarter-finals," said Adebayor, an unused substitute in AS Monaco FC's 2004 UEFA Champions League final defeat by José Mourinho's FC Porto. "Of course there is pressure here to do it but that has to be seen as something positive for the team; something we can use to our advantage."

The 27-year-old former Arsenal FC and Togo forward has scored three times in ten appearances since his arrival on loan in January from Manchester City FC, and is eager for more. "In principle, I was to come here for six months so I want to do the best I can in that time," continued Adebayor.

"The most important thing for me now is that as a team we do everything in our power to get ourselves into Friday's draw. We know it's going to be difficult but we're ready to do what we have to to get through.

"The extra man on our side will be our fans. We expect a full house and for the supporters to get right behind us on the night. We're here to win the Champions League: you can see it etched on the face of every player and all of the coaching staff here."

Adebayor's in-form strike partner Karim Benzema echoed those sentiments. "We're only 90 minutes away from ending this bad run and finally getting to the quarter-finals so we'll be seeking out the win from the very first whistle," he said.

"Lyon are a solid team. They know they'll have to come at us at some point in order to score but I know them very well and they won't attack without leaving their defence unprotected; in general they don't leave many gaps."

The 23-year-old scored in the 1-1 draw at the Stade de Gerland and has since struck twice in each of Madrid's last three games. "I've been working extremely hard in training and you can see the results," he said. "Now, everything I do is working out for me. I'm very happy."