Image caption, Dolan played 38 games for Espanyol last season across La Liga and the Copa del Rey ByElizabeth ConwaySpanish football reporter Published 15 minutes ago Tyrhys Dolan, who played for Blackburn Rovers for five years before joining Espanyol last summer, says he is ready to take on one of the biggest tests of his career when Real Madrid visit the RCDE Stadium on Saturday (20:30 BST).
The Manchester-born winger began his second season in Spain in impressive fashion, scoring in Espanyol's 3-0 victory over Levante on the opening weekend.
Now he faces a very different challenge, with Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid arriving in Barcelona for their first match of the season.
Dolan, 24, insists Espanyol will not allow the occasion to change their approach.
"These are the games you want to be playing in," he said.
"They're the games the supporters want to watch and all eyes will be on it.
"Jose Mourinho has legendary status as a manager.
He's got that mentality that he wants to win every single game.
"They're not going to come out and treat it as an easy game against us.
They're going to bring their best." Facing Bellingham and Alexander-Arnold Dolan also knows he could share the pitch with fellow English players Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold, but there will be little room for catching up before kick-off.
"When it's business, it's business," he said.
"It's nice to be playing against top talents and other English players.
It's great to see.
We'll catch up after the game but all focus will be on getting three points." But despite the glamour surrounding Real Madrid, Dolan believes the key is to avoid making the occasion bigger than it needs to be.
"You don't want to try and build a game up too much because then, when you get there, all the emotions can kind of eat you up," he said.
Instead, he plans to stick to the routine that has served him successfully since moving to Spain.
"You focus on yourself as best as you can and make sure that you're prepared as well as you can," he said.
"I like to stay within the same routine and headspace." That approach reflects how much Dolan has changed since leaving the English Championship for Espanyol.
Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Mbappe not incompatible - Mourinho Published 16 hours ago 'I feel much more responsibility this year The winger admits his first season in Spain was as much a personal challenge as a footballing one.
Moving away from family and friends, adapting to a new culture and learning a new language forced him to become more self-reliant.
"It's definitely matured me so much, off the pitch and on it too," he said.
On the field, Dolan believes the standard of La Liga has accelerated his development.
He says his decision-making has improved significantly, while his crossing and ability to provide different types of assists have also progressed.
"I've learned and added so many tools to my trade since making the move to Espanyol," he said.
Having made more than 30 appearances last season, Dolan now feels the weight of expectation has changed.
"I feel much more responsibility within the team this year," he said.
"I feel like I am one of the players who is going to get it done." "When you join, everything is new to you and you don't really know how to handle it.
You just kind of roll with it.
"But now I know exactly what I'm doing heading into this season.
I've got my home here, I've got my solid fanbase, I've got team-mates that are now friends for me.
It's not just strangers that you're playing with at the start." 'All my family and friends are buzzing' That confidence was evident against Levante, when Dolan's goal helped Espanyol to an opening-weekend win.
The victory has given the squad belief for Real's visit, but Dolan knows the level required will rise sharply.
"We can't afford to make as many mistakes because Real Madrid will capitalise on it," he said.
For Espanyol, however, the game represents more than simply an opportunity to face one of Europe's biggest clubs - as they have their own ambitions.
"I think we can really be in those top-six positions," Dolan said.
"We want to aim as high as we can." And there is a personal edge to Saturday's occasion with many of Dolan's family and friends in the stands.
"I'm trying to keep the numbers to a respectable amount and not taking too many tickets off of the [other] players," he said.
"But all my family and friends are buzzing.
