Demichelis on selecting the starting XI: 'The transfer fee doesn’t matter'

"It is an honour to cross paths with him again, now as a manager. I vividly recall chatting with him in the tunnel after that final—memories that stay with you forever, gifts that football provides. He commands respect, and exudes wisdom; there is a reason Real Madrid went after him despite already boasting a star-studded squad," he reflected, looking back on the Champions League final between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich, won by Mourinho's side.

The Argentine also reserved praise for former RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande: "I didn't get the chance to manage him; I barely had him after the World Cup because he was working individually. From what I watched on television and on the screen, I have no doubt that if Madrid took a chance on him, it is because of what he achieved at Leipzig."

"Modern football constantly seeks game-changing wingers, and he is certainly one of them. The rest of his path rests on his shoulders. I expect Mbappe to play, I imagine Vinicius will miss out as he is suspended, and on the right it could be Yan, Arda, or Endrick. Whomever they field will form a lethal attack," he noted.

Finally, Demichelis singled out Kylian Mbappe as the one player he would remove from the Real Madrid lineup on Wednesday if given the choice. However, he stopped short of weighing in on his Ballon d'Or credentials: "It is not for me to decide who is the best in the world. That he is among the best is beyond doubt. We have a huge opportunity tomorrow against an outstanding side packed with elite talent; it will demand our absolute concentration."