Real sauntered through the match, scoring twice before half time thanks to a delicate chip from Cristiano Ronaldo after a Mesut Ozil through pass, added to by Karim Benzema who finished smartly at the back post.

Substitute Gonzalo Higuain grabbed the third, nodding home from Xabi Alonso’s free kick as Real landed one foot firmly in the semi-finals ahead of their trip to Turkey for the return leg.

Mourinho’s former charge Didider Drogba went close on several occasions but Wesley Sneijder was substituted at half time after cutting a peripheral figure in the first 45 minutes.

Mourinho told Sky Sports: “I think we played seriously. The Spanish press were not so respectful in relation to Galatasaray but we were very respectful.

“We knew they were a good team with fantastic strikers; they had danger and we prepared very well from a defensive point of view.

“We defended better than we attacked because in attacking terms I think we lost the last ball, the last pass, we had easy transitions – three against three, three against four – we could have scored more goals.”

Asked whether the tie was effectively over Mourinho replied: “If you score a goal they have to score five. I think the result is very good but in football I saw so many incredible things that nothing can surprise me and Istanbul is a difficult place to play.

“They have players with lots of experience, players with character, I think they will fight very hard against us. We have to go there very seriously because it is the only way to go through.”

As for his reunion with Drogba and Sneijder, Mourinho added: “I was with them at the end of the match, (Didier) and Wesley. They are family – they weren’t during 90 minutes but they are family.”

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Persistent rumours in Spain have linked both the Real Madrid coach and the team’s talisman with a move to the Qatari-backed Ligue 1 side. Mourinho’s regular rows with his dressing-room and Ronaldo’s ongoing ‘unhappiness’ regarding his contract situation have been seen as offering PSG an ideal opportunity to pounce.

And the French club’s current biggest star Ibrahimovic says he would welcome the pair with open arms.

“That would be great news for any team as Mourinho is a great coach, among the best in the world, and Cristiano Ronaldo is also among the best players around,” Zlatan told Marca. “But at the moment that is not the reality. People can dream about their arrival and speculate, but until it happens you cannot give an answer.”

The Sweden international also revealed his feelings about the decision of his former coach Pep Guardiola to take charge at Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich next season. Ibrahimovic, who did not always see eye to eye with Guardiola during their season together at Barcelona, believes the Catalan coach’s choice of new club has given him a chance to repeat his past success.

“It is his personal decision, what he thinks he should do,” he said. “I think that is the most important. It is a good opportunity that he can take advantage of. It is a big club, with great players and an impressive structure and organisation. The German mentality is different. He has the same opportunity to repeat the work he did in Barcelona. He will be at one of the five best teams in the world.”

PSG face La Liga side Valencia in the Champions League last 16 next month, and Ibrahimovic is expecting a close encounter over the two legs.

“Valencia play good football,” he said. “We must be careful. The first game at the Mestalla will be very important. They are a tough team and we must be very focused. Little details will decide the tie.”

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“I want to see out my contract at Real Madrid: I’m very clear about that. After that, well, I don’t know what’ll happen in the future,” Ronaldo said in an interview with FIFA.com.

Ronaldo was serving a suspension and did not play on Saturday against Osasuna. Real Madrid was held to a 0-0 draw, leaving the team 18 points behind leaders Barcelona at the halfway point of the La Liga season.

Retaining the league title is unlikely, Ronaldo admitted.

“We have not started the championship very well, for sure,” Ronaldo said. “We know that La Liga is an uphill struggle for us now, but nothing is impossible in football. We are going to work hard, win games and see what happens. And, of course, there is the Champions League and the Copa del Rey too. There is plenty for us to win this season.”

Ronaldo also acknowledged that he feels even more pressure to play well at Real Madrid than he did when he was under contract for Manchester United.

“I’ve been here for 3½ years now and I think that’s the case because everyone involved is totally focused on winning the club’s 10th European Cup. That creates a certain amount of anxiety, which can be felt at all times,” Ronaldo said, adding that he thinks the pressure sometimes gets to the team. “But we have to try and rise above it and not let what people say get to us, particularly the media, as Real Madrid get spoken about every day. At the end of the day it comes down to an individual decision, whether you want to read the papers or not. I don’t think what the papers say matters too much, so there’s no need to overdramatize the issue.”

Ronaldo defended coach Jose Mourinho’s style.

“People do protest and you have to respect that, though I think they should be a bit patient with him. To me it’s very clear that Mourinho always wants what’s best for the club and will fight to the death to defend it,” he said. “In my view he’s the best coach in the world, he’s got loads of experience and has won everything there is to win.”

Real Madrid hosts Valencia in Tuesday’s Copa del Rey quarterfinal first leg, where Ronaldo will likely see action, along with Mesut Ozil, Karim Benzema and Ricardo Carvalho.

Regarding February’s Champions League last-16 match against his former club Manchester United, Ronaldo said he saw the ties as a difficult step towards a 10th European Cup for Madrid.

“Every Madridista wants that 10th European Cup — we are more than aware of that,” he said. “Last season we fell just short, which was very frustrating. The fact we face Manchester United next makes it more difficult. It is not going to be easy and I reckon the odds are about 50-50, but I am still very confident.”

Despite last week’s rumors he is being courted by Paris Saint Germain, Ronaldo gave no indication of the “sadness” he reported last September that sparked the speculation about his future.

“I’m doing something I like, something that I enjoy,” he said. “I know how fortunate I am and I feel very fulfilled.”

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