Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel admits he's a big fan of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.

Chelsea host Real tonight in the first-leg of their Champions League quarterfinal.

Tuchel was asked by a Spanish journalist if there was a Real Madrid player who would pose a special threat to his team.

"Instead of being boring and always saying 'I will not say who', one particular name I gave all the praise to is Karim Benzema," replied Tuchel.

"Two years ago he was one of the most under-rated players in world football, but maybe not anymore, which he absolutely deserves. He plays as a number nine for Real Madrid for so many years, that speaks for itself. What he did in the last stage for them, how he carried responsibility, and the key part he plays as a captain now, is very impressive.

"You can see what can happen to the team in his absence when they played the Clasico. For sure he is a standout player and a standout personality, but it is again at this very moment unfair to Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Casemiro and to all the guys who carried this team so successfully over almost a decade now.

"They are huge personalities which I am immediately a fan of, but for sure not today."