Galatasaray midfielder Wesley Sneijder has paid tribute to Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho.

Sneijder played for Mourinho at Inter Milan and faces his old boss when Gala meet Real in their Champions League quarterfinal.

"Mourinho is like a second father to me," the midfielder told Marca. "Mourinho is a powerhouse.

"In football we have powerhouses who are players, and ever since I met Mourinho, we can say that there are powerhouses who are Coaches. And he certainly is, without any doubt at all.

"He is a very special person for me. As a Coach he is incredible, number one. It was he who gave me confidence and I enjoyed playing football like never before.

"And as a person he reaches you much more than in his role as Coach. Mourinho is a friend."