Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone says his plans for Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal second leg at Real Madrid have not been changed by the string of injuries his opponents have suffered.
The tie is evenly balanced after last week's 0-0 draw at the Calderon, but Madrid's preparations have been thrown into turmoil by injuries to key starters Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.
Simeone, who before the first leg had spoken of his admiration for Croatian playmaker Modric, told his prematch news conference that his planning remained focused on how his side could "do damage" to Madrid as a team.
"Sincerely, I am more thinking about how we can do them damage than how they might feel," he said. "I have respect for whoever comes in for Modric, who is an exceptional player, but I worry more about how we can do damage to them than who plays for them.
"Different players will come in, and they will be motivated, enthusiastic to show what they can do. For us, the truth is it does not change much. We have an idea, imagining the game the opponent will present, and from there look to do them damage."
Real had the better of the first half of last week's first game, when they dominated territorially but were unable to find a way past young Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak. Simeone said that the visitors' fast start had not been a surprise, and he expected something similar at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
"The intensity of the opponent was maybe among the best of the whole season, along with their passing, their 'verticality' and their movement between the lines," he said. "You expect that of the best team in the world, which they are. I was not surprised. They are a very difficult opponent."
Atletico centre-forward Mario Mandzukic looks set to overcome the persistent ankle problem that saw him sit out last Saturday's 2-1 La Liga win at Deportivo La Coruna.
"We have been training with two groups, making some changes," Simeone said. "Mandzukic worked well. He has improved over the session. We have another session this evening and hope he will be fit. From there we will have things pretty clear."
Simeone said Atletico's in-form attacker Antoine Griezmann, who comes into the game having scored five times in his last six appearances, still had plenty of room for improvement.
"Griezmann, since his arrival, has grown a lot as a player," he said of the France international, who joined from Real Sociedad last summer. "The goals in La Liga show that.
"He is learning to play in different positions, more than he did in the past. He is still a young kid, with a long way to grow, to improve. He is on a very good rising path, and all the people who believe in him and love him are happy with his improvement."
The Colchoneros coach added that Griezmann's versatility, and that of teammates such as Raul Garcia, Koke and Saul Niguez, means Atletico can take a flexible approach during games.
"With the players we have, with their characteristics, we have the option of changing our tactics during the game," he said. "So the system at the start, the sheet of paper before the game, is not that important."