Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois says he's ready to face former club Chelsea.

Real and Chelsea will meet this week in the first-leg of their Champions League quarterfinal.

"I hope that they don't boo me, but you never know," Courtois told Real Madrid's official website.

"I'm prepared for whatever comes and we'll have to see how it goes.

"I hope it's a happy return to Stamford Bridge. We're now rivals. They'll want to win and the same goes for me too and so I'm not expecting any applause from the fans."

Upon leaving Chelsea for Los Merengues, Courtois freely admits that it was a dream come true, and one that he simply never envisaged happening for him.

"When I arrive at the training ground and see the Real Madrid badge, I sometimes think: Pinch me! This isn't a dream, is it?" he added.

"Not even in my wildest dream could I have imagined that I would one day play for Real Madrid.

"That's the good thing about football. You have to believe in yourself and that one day your dreams will come true".