Jose Reina was a Barcelona fan as a boy, but that is not the only reason the Liverpool goalkeeper so desperately wants to finish on the winning side against Real Madrid next week.
Reina has never been on the winning side against Madrid at the Bernabeu.
He gets another chance on Wednesday when Liverpool face Madrid in the last-16 of this season's Champions League.
It will be Liverpool's first-ever visit to the Bernabeu for a competitive European match, but fans will be quick to point out that in the only previous meeting between the clubs, they ran out winners.
Alan Kennedy's goal in Paris won the European Cup Final for Liverpool on May 27th, 1981. What Liverpool would give for a repeat result on Wednesday to set them up nicely for the second-leg at Anfield on March 10.
But Liverpool could hardly have a tougher task next week. Madrid have not lost this year and caretaker boss Juande Ramos has made a genuine impact on a club who have been all-but blown away by Barcelona this season in La Liga.
Madrid are not going to retain their title this season, barring a miracle, but they will surely qualify for the Champions League next season.
That means the pressure is off them domestically, so a serious tilt at the Champions League is on the cards.
For Liverpool, the pressures are all home-grown. It will be interesting to see how boss Rafael Benitez's pitches this first leg with the Premier League crown still very much on their radar.
Reina, with 16 clean sheets already this season, desperately wants another as he seeks a first win at the famous stadium after five previous visits with Barcelona and Villarreal.
'I have yet to win in the Bernabeu,' he said. 'Two draws is the best I have managed.
'In many ways it is similar to Anfield, as a real tough place to get a result. That has always been the case.'
Reina grew up a Barcelona fan because his father Miguel was a goalkeeper at the Nou Camp before joining Atletico Madrid.
Reina said: "When my dad played against (Madrid) in the 60s and 70s it was the same story. So our job won't be easy, but we still know we can do it.'
Liverpool were very much written off when they went to Barcelona in 2006-07 on the way to the Athens final defeat by AC Milan.
But that day they won 2-1, with goals from Craig Bellamy and John Arne Riise, with an unexpected attacking display.
So Liverpool know they can produce the unexpected in Spain.
'I was a Barcelona fan because it was my dad's team, so it would be really special for me to help eliminate Real from there Champions League,' Reina added.
'They are one of the world's greatest clubs, so defeat would be no shame. But we are not thinking like that, we will be doing our utmost to make sure that doesn't happen.
'And I am confident we will reach the quarter-finals. The competition has been very good for us in recent years, and we want that run to continue.
'Every player dreams about playing in the biggest games at the best grounds and this is certainly one of those.
'I have plenty of friends at Real, like Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas. We are all close, but that does not stop me wanting to make sure Liverpool go through to the next round.'
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