Pellegrini pours out his frustration
In his first interview after being sacked as the coach of Real Madrid, Manuel Pellegrini spoke to Cadena SER in which he vented out his frustration and anger. Frankly I don’t blame him and I do feel that whatever he has said here below is true. He said:
I came here with high hopes and great pride to manage this team. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to do what I wanted to do and I had differences from the beginning of the season.
He like all the other previous coaches of Real said that he wasn’t given the full autonomy of deciding who should stay and who should leave. He even went on to say that the project is not on track.
There were a lot of disagreements in the club. I asked for them to keep (Wesley) Sneijder and (Arjen) Robben, who were two very important players for me. I missed having a debate on sporting issues, with the coach included. As Vicente Del Bosque said, even the club show no respect for the position of the coach, and they don’t give them the authority internally or externally. Florentino’s project is extraordinary but I think he’s got it wrong.
And clearly his relationship with the President was cold if not anything else. He added:
I did not speak with the president since last August. I cannot say anything good or bad about Florentino, because I do not know. I respect his stance of the president. He has a sporting project in which I don’t fit.
And finally he spoke about disrespect shown to him by Real as they went about finding his replacement behind his back.
The manner in which Real went about finding my replacement hurt. Above all because they had already tied up a new coach which isn’t ethical. I wouldn’t have spoken about a team that already had a coach in place. It isn’t very ethical, but he is a coach that has proven he is a winner in every team he has been with.
Like I said at the beginning of this post I do not have anything to add. I can like anyone else only pity him and thank him for a splendid season that he gave us. I hope he finds a club that respects and values him more than we did.
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
So what is good enough for Florentino Perez?
To be fair to him Jose Mourinho is the World’s best coach. His style of coaching, the way he carries himself, the way he protects his players, the way he strives to win is something that no one else in this World is capable of doing. He has won wherever he has been. He is The Special One. No doubts about it. But all I want to ask is whether he is good enough for Real.
It is a fact that Vicente Del Bosque wasn’t good enough even though he won us the League Title and managed the Galacticos like no one else possibly could have. Fabio Capello wasn’t good enough even though he won us the title in one of the greatest sporting comebacks. Bernd Schuster wasn’t good enough even though his team breezed past the rest of Spain to win us our 31st title. Juande Ramos wasn’t good enough even though he took the worst ever Real Madrid team in a decade up to second place in the league. And now even Manuel Pellegrini is not considered to be good enough to manage this team despite the 102 goals that the team scored and the fact that they challenged the best Barcelona side in Catalan history right up till Match day 38. The above five managers are the only prominent ones amongst the rest who came and went just like summer and winter every year who too weren’t good enough. So is Jose Mourinho good enough? Clearly good enough does not mean winning titles. Except Manuel Pellegrini and barring the temp in Juande Ramos the others mentioned above won titles for us.
So what is good enough for Florentino Perez? Going by what the above mentioned managers it is the following. A manager good enough to remain at Real for more than one season must satisfy the following conditions:
- Win La Liga and the Champions League. Either won’t do. A double is the minimum requirement.
- A treble will be amazing. But winning Copa del Rey alone will help no one as the trophy which Real haven’t won in ages isn’t really appealing.
- Win both legs of the Clasico.
- Play the team which Florentino wants you to play.
- Sign the players he wants to see and sell the players he doesn’t want to see even if that means playing a one man defense with no goal keepers.
- Concede 1789654 goals in 90 minutes of football but score 1789655 goals at least in which case the last goal comes in the 93rd minute.
- Do not buy players who are black and cannot dress up for an Nike commercial to be aired in Hong Kong.
- Do not buy players for whom young ladies with big boobs carry signs saying “Marry me XYZ!”
- Buy defenders who offer something more than playing in defense alone – something like improving the number of Spaniards in your squad.
- Sell or at least try to sell else don’t pay them enough for all the players who were brought in under a different regime.
Has Jose really agreed to do all of these? Can anyone do all these in the same season? Is the Bernabeu the right stage for Mourinho style football? There are so many more unanswered questions that only time can answer.
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
Speculation about Jose Mourinho looms
Inter Milan and Bayern Munich will compete to determine the Champions of Europe at the Santiago Bernabeu on 22nd May in the UEFA Champions League final. This will crown the return of several former Madridistas currently representing the two sides and also a clash between two of the most entertaining managers in club football history – Inter’s Jose Mourinho and Bayern’s Louis van Gaal.
Madrid is talking more about the former though as speculation looms regarding Mourinho’s future with the Nerazzurri especially considering the growing rumors touting him as the man to replace Manuel Pellegrini as Real Madrid’s new manager. With players like Kaka commenting on Jose Mourinho to the press in the past week or so it does seem inevitable that Manuel Pellegrini will be shown the exit door by the ever fickle-minded Florentino Perez despite a much improved but trophy-less season. The Brazilian though offered support for Pellegrini as well – insisting 56-year-old Pellegrini had done well. He is not the only player to have voiced a public support for the Chilean. But when has that ever been taken into account?
The man in the spotlight, Manuel Pellegrini himself admitted that it his future with the club is uncertain. Pellegrini accepts that the decision will rest with club bosses but he believes they should consider the fact that Real still collected a staggering 96 league points even though they finished second. The Chilean tactician nevertheless accepts that his first campaign at the helm cannot be considered a success as Real did not claim any silverware.
We can’t say it’s been a good season if we haven’t won a title. It is not easy making a team with a new coach and players but I can not evaluate my own work. I have one more year left on my contract and that’s all there is to say.
If they ask me I will say the bases are there for next year and the results prove that. At best, in the future people will recognise what we have achieved, and they’ll see it isn’t easy to get the figures we have in the face of a great Barcelona side, though we still have work to do to cut out errors, and to close the gap on them.
He sounded frustrated more than anything else with what has been going on revealing that he never totally knew whether or not he was going stay for another season or not. He was very right to say that if the person replacing him had to better his record at the club then that particular replacement had to earn more than 100 points in the league. Pellegrini’s men earned 96 points, three shy of the 99 tallied by champions Barcelona.
All year, and especially in recent weeks, perhaps there hasn’t been a clear reply (from the club on my continuity). Amidst the uncertainty I have always had the support of the players.
I don’t think Real speak behind the back of their coach, this isn’t their style. But I am not so innocent to believe that all the rumours are simply speculation by journalists.
If, for whatever reason, the project doesn’t continue the person who comes in will have a difficult job. He will have to win more than 100 points in the league to do better than me. I know failing to win a title isn’t good but I don’t think the final decision will change much whether we win the league or not.
Jorge Valdano was one among those in the club’s management who were behind the appointment of Manuel Pellegrini as the manager of Real Madrid. He had always been behind the manager even in times of crisis during the course of the season but this time even he couldn’t assure us fans that we will have the same man in the dugout for next season. He told Spanish television:
The club will sit down and discuss what course we are going to take for next season. Today isn’t the right moment to be taking decisions. We have a lot of time in front of us and we’ll see what course we take.
Valdano said when asked about the Portuguese coach:
I won’t get involved in this. Mourinho has his battles to fight and we have to continue independent of opinions and other people’s comments.
But this is how all the big moves start. Both parties remain to say nothing about it and boom! All of a sudden all the negotiations are done and the move is complete. The other party here is Jose himself and he has been somewhat coy about his future – the Jose Mourinho style.
It’s not a problem of contract or money and that makes me slightly embarrassed because of what I earn considering the (world economic) crisis there is. It’s a problem of personal satisfaction, to feel respected or not in a football nation where I have had so many problems. It’s not true that I’m the Real coach. After the final, I want to think about my future.
Obviously, Inter cannot do anything more to make me feel happy and feel important. The players are fantastic, so are the fans and everyone at the club. The result of Saturday’s game means nothing. It will not change the fact that I have given everything possible. Inter doesn’t owe me anything and I owe nothing to Inter, because I’ve given everything.
The future does look bleak for Manuel Pellegrini. I am deeply sad for Mourinho and angered by our team management (not for the first time) but at the same time I cannot lie by saying that I am not excited by the fact that Jose Mourinho might be our next manager.
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
Post-match comments
Director General Jorge Valdano shared his thoughts on tonight’s draw and the overall season. Manuel Pellegrini analysed the team’s season following the 1-1 draw in Malaga. The squad was sad for not winning the title, but all the players are aware of the great season they’ve had.
"This was an extraordinary La Liga run"
Valdano:
We are Real Madrid. History has shown we always know how to win or lose. Two teams had a great run this season, breaking several records along the way.
As Barcelona scored their goals the tension of our match decreased, but not for Malaga. Their life was at stake. You could tell by their players and the crowd.
Barcelona had the advantage and made good use of it. We should congratulate them for being worthy champions.
We are as excited as we were at the start of the year because this is a long-term project. We knew how great the challenge was. We stood firm in the race for the title.
We have a lot of time ahead of us to decide which way we should go for next year. There won’t be as many changes as there were last year, but we will have to make some adjustments to reach the highest quality and get over this season.
Pellegrini:
We knew it was going to be difficult for Barcelona to lose the title, but our intention here was to win and hope they earned a complicated result.
We had an extraordinary run in La Liga and the numbers we earned prove this. It’s never a good year when you don’t win a title, but the team’s work in the league may be positively valued later on.
It’s logical for there to be great assessments after a season at a great club like Real Madrid, but it is not my place to publically defend my job.
We have to work much more to correct certain aspects of our game and to surpass a team that plays excellent football and has been doing so for a long time. People may realise in the future just how difficult it is to take so many points and to earn the numbers we have.
We knew Malaga were tough as locals and they were fighting to avoid relegation. We could have won the match in the second half, but our morale was influenced by what Barcelona were doing. I am glad Malaga remain in the First Division.
I wish to thank my men for the season they had. They are hard workers and they set a great example both on and off the pitch. They had a brilliant run in la Liga, but their work hasn’t been properly valued because we didn’t win the title and we fought against a great Barcelona. I am very grateful to them. We can’t conform ourselves with being runners-up in the future. We have to continue cutting distances shorter with Barcelona.
Pellegrini press conference
Manuel Pellegrini talked to the media about tomorrow’s crucial game in Malaga.
"Nothing is for certain in football"
Title Race:
I don’t know who might have a feeling of this being over alrerady. When we lost against Barcelona we said we had seven more games to win and, so far, the team has done so.
Barcelona:
Barcelona will be champions if they take 99 points. We’ll see what happens tomorrow. Nothing is for certain in football.
Season so far:
This season has been complicated because there were great expectations set on this new project. We’ve fought to the very end in La Liga against whom some consider to be the best team in the world. We’ve broken several records and earned great numbers that are hard to beat. The team has always done its best and has managed to score more than 100 goals.
Post-match comments
Jorge Valdano transmitted a message of hope following Real Madrid’s 5-1 victory against Athletic Bilbao. Manuel Pellegrini was very pleased with his team’s victory on Saturday, but he didn’t shy away from commenting on his displeasure with the score in Seville. The message is loud and clear. Members of Real Madrid’s first team still believe they have a shot at the league title and 98 points after beating Athletic Bilbao 5-1 on Saturday.
"We will fight until the end."
Valdano:
We are still hopeful. We have fewer chances percentage-wise, but we will fight until the very end. A lot can happen in this sport including things that seem impossible.
We took care of business in the second half after suffering from a lot of anxiety in the first. The best news was the five goals we scored for our fans. Their support was a deciding factor.
We are setting records for wins and are close to the all-time scoring recod, which proves that this is a great team that has only improved over the course of the season. We will not be discouraged. We will defend Real Madrid’s pride in Malaga and will fight until the very end.
Ronaldo and Higuain have a great partnership, but we also have other talented players like Benzema and Kaka. Ramos’ goal was evidence of his grit and pride. He has had an exceptional season and will one day go down in the history of Real Madrid.
Pellegrini:
The team felt anxious and discouraged for a while. We have one more match and although we had a lot of hope riding on the game in Seville, Valladolid have a lot at stake when they visit Barcelona next week. We will maintain our pressure until the end.
We knew that Barcelona’s match against Sevilla would be more complicated than next week’s against Valladolid, but you never know what may happen. We need to maintain this spirit and fight until the very end. Hope is the last thing we can lose.
We closed out a great season at the Bernabeu. We won 18 of 19 matches and scored 60 goals here, which is more than three per match. We have now scored more than 100 goals. The numbers are there. We are the top scoring team.
Pellegrini press conference
Manuel Pellegrini knows this weekend could be decisive in La Liga. He said the team has to win tomorrow and next week to keep its chances alive.
"I believe the team's spirits are high"
Bilbao:
The match against Bilbao won’t be easy. We have to win and focus on ourselves given that whatever happens in Seville won’t have anything to do with us.
Title Hopes:
We will also have to defeat Malaga. I don’t think Barcelona will lose their final home game next week, so this weekend could be decisive. Their match in Seville will be very important.
Which team deserves more:
Both Barcelona and Real Madrid deserve the title, but someone has to win in the end. Whichever team does will deserve it more.
Post-match comments
Director General Jorge Valdano praised his team for earning a crucial victory in Mallorca tonight. Manuel Pellegrini was very satisfied with his team’s victory. The coach pointed out his men performed better in the second half. Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano declared that the difference between Real Madrid, Barcelona and the rest of the Primera Liga is “astronomical.” Afterwards, Manzano acknowledged the superiority of Los Merengues and in particular Cristiano Ronaldo. Delighted with the victory and his hat-trick, Ronaldo shared his thoughts on the match with the media. The Real Madrid squad was delighted with the victory.
"We improved considerably in the second half and won a difficult game"
Valdano:
We were somewhat uneven in the first half, but we showcased our dominating skills in the last 45 minutes. We concentrate on the job at hand and we always show our professional character and excitement to win this title.
Cristiano Ronaldo showcases the Club’s trademark winning spirit. He is an extraordinary player, but I don’t think it’s fair to say the team depends on him.
We will have to win our match this weekend regardless of what happens between Barcelona and Sevilla. We must play a serious game, like we did during tonight’s second half, and wait for our chance.
Pellegrini:
I think there was a considerable difference between our performances in the first and second halves. We suffered a lot in the first against Mallorca’s counterattacks. We were better organised in the second part and managed to tip the scales towards us.
We knew we were going to have a rough time. We all know what Mallorca are capable of, especially as locals. We luckily managed to win the match and to do so decisively.
We all know Cristiano is an extremely important player. This team plays in regard to the quality of its men and Cristiano is one of them. He plays a crucial role. Nevertheless, the team responded well when he missed two months because of an injury.
We need to defeat Athletic Bilbao and Malaga to reach the 98-point mark. There’s much at stake for both sides. We feel strong and confident both on and off the pitch, but we still don’t depend on ourselves, so we have to avoid mistakes and wait for Barcelona to make some.
Manzano:
For 60 minutes we played a very good game. We kept the order, nullified Madrid and we created chances but the second goal affected us in terms of mindset. Then, we opened up looking for an equalizer and Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in individual actions. He is very dangerous with the ball at his feet.
It is very difficult to take the ball off Madrid, despite the enormous physical effort we made. The difference between Madrid and Barcelona with the rest of the teams is astronomical.
Pellegrini press conference
Manuel Pellegrini tipped his hat to Mallorca for their impressive season and affirmed that Wednesday’s match is Real Madrid’s most difficult of the three left this year.
"Both Barcelona and Real Madrid deserve to be the champion"
Mallorca:
This match is the most difficult of the three we have left. Mallorca have had a great season as evidenced by their position in the table.
Pressure:
Barcelona and Real Madrid feel the same pressure, but we are both used to it. Both teams need to win out and whoever makes the fewest mistakes will be crowned champion. We intend to win all three matches.
Title:
Both teams deserve to be the champion because both have put up historic numbers. Again, whoever makes the fewest mistakes will win the title.
Post-match comments
Director General Jorge Valdano was very happy with the team’s victory over Osasuna, admitting the game had been “strange” because the team gave an “uneven” performance at times. Manuel Pellegrini admitted the team “suffered to win,” but was overall happy with the victory. Osasuna coach Jose Antonio Camacho was pleased with the effort of his players despite going down. Cristiano Ronaldo (2) and Marcelo scored for the Whites this evening. The squad expressed its satisfaction with the victory over Osasuna.
"That mental strength, combined with the crowd's support, is vital in the final stage of the competition"
Valdano:
My heart is pounding. It was a strange game because we were uneven, managing to sentence the match only at the end. Real Madrid never give up the fight and the crowd has been there for us. We hope to write a new chapter in this fight, which everyone used to think we had already lost.
The title would have been practically unreachable had we drawn the match, but the team would have kept on fighting to the end. This victory will help us keep Barcelona on edge. It’s never the same to face a game knowing that another team is also putting pressure on you.
Cristiano Ronaldo is very much like Real Madrid and the crowd notices. We have players with great character and Cristiano is one of them. He brings life to the team. It always seems something is about to happen whenever he gets the ball.
Juanfran seemed quite at ease in his debut. He was fast and confident with the ball. He read the game intelligently, knowing when to up the pace of the match and when to slow it down.
Our next three games will be tremendous. Barcelona must be going through the same as us. It will be a clash of titans. We hope to win the title in the end.
Pellegrini:
I think tonight we saw the worst defending we’ve done all year. We were weak at the back.
It is impossible to deny Cristiano Ronaldo makes a difference. We are lucky to have him.
I think the team is very strong, especially on a psychological level. This is vital in the final stage of the season. The crowd’s support is always great. They know as well as us that it is very important to take three points in Mallorca.
We can’t draw early conclusions now. We must stay strong to force Barcelona to take 99 points if they want the title.
Camacho:
We can take something positive from this defeat. The players are hurting but we must continue fighting.
If we play in Wednesday’s game with this level of intensity, then we must get a result.
The goal that Masoud has failed to score, I thought it was so easy that I have looked away and I saw that there hadn’t been a goal. Fate was not with us on this occasion.
Pellegrini press conference
Manuel Pellegrini is aware of just how important each point in play is at this stage of the competition.
"Our spirits are high and we will perform at a high level"
Morale:
Our spirits are high and we will perform at a high level.
Importance of the game:
Every point in play is important. The team that ends up leading the table this week will increase its chances to win the title. This weekend is very important, but it won’t be decisive.
Barcelona-Villareal:
We don’t know how Barcelona will react, but Villarreal are a very good team. I was lucky to defeat Barcelona at Villarreal’s stadium when I coached there. It will be a complicated game for them.
Kaka:
Kaka’s return is extremely important to us at this stage of the championship.
Osasooner rather than later – Osasuna pre-preview
Time to leave them sitting ducks
C.A. Osasuna a.k.a Los Rojillos are placed 12th in La Liga with 39 points, seven clear of the relegation zone and can confirm their status as a top-flight club with a win in tomorrow’s 19:00 CET kick-off against 2nd placed Real Madrid C.F at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.
Osasuna with their über-cool 4-2-3-1 formation arrive in Madrid having scored the second fewest goals in La Liga – a meager 30 from their 34 games. Real Madrid on the other hand have scored more than any other team in the league – a humongous 89 from the same number of games.
More stats, Real Madrid have won 37 and drawn 14 of the 63 matches played against Gorritxoak. And at home the Whites have won 24 out the 31 ti,mes they’ve played them. And in the current season Osasuna have only notched points in six of their 17 matches away from home.
But all that will not matter when eleven of our men take on ten of theirs and Walter Pandiani. All that will matter is the performance on the pitch. And that means we need to be at our best in order to have any kind of chance of winning the league. Barça play Villareal at El Madrigal in the late kick-off on Saturday and going by what happened midweek against Inter, when they were tactically played out by Mourinho’s men, they wouldn’t be in the best of mindsets thus giving us a very good chance of going ahead of them in the table. Either way, irrespective of whether they win or lose, we must get to the 98 point mark. Its unequivocally mandatory. Kaká could not have agreed more with me. Speaking to bwin.com he said:
This weekend’s match is very important. It’s another final for us. Osasuna are seven points clear of the relegation zone and have a lot at stake. They need to win as well, which is why I think it’s going to be a good match. A one-point difference is very little in a competition as challenging as La Liga. We will have a good chance of being champions if we win our last four matches.
And with reference to the Barcelona-Villareal game:
Barcelona visit a Villarreal team that is fighting for a spot in Europe. They are in a special section of the table and it will be a very difficult match. We know just how tough it will be. I don’t think Barça will have an easy time at all. There are four matches left and we must do our share.
Team news now and Osasuna first. With Javad Nekounam’s availability still in question, Puñal may get the nod as the defensive midfielder along with Ruper or Vadocz while Monreal will suit up for Jose Antonio Camacho’s team after serving a one-match suspension. The exact squad list will be posted in the proper preview to the game.
Their strategy is quite simple and well known to all. They attack using their quick wing-backs and wingers. Keeping tabs on them will stop the supply to the brawny Pandiani thus preventing them from scoring. Ricardo is in fine form and we must remember that we haven’t scored against them this season. They are the only other team apart from Bilbao and Barcelona in Spain to have achieved that.
Probable Starting XI: CA Osasuna
As far as we are concerned we will definitely be without the services of Raúl, Pepe, Van der Vaart and Drenthe. The latter though participated in full training today but will definitely not make the cut. The other three are missing for obvious reasons. We also have a few niggled players in Diarra, Arbeloa (niggled left patellar tendon), Lass (lower back pain) and Guti (strained left hamstring) who completed specific recovery protocols in the gym. Saturday’s session, scheduled for 10:30 CET, behind closed doors will be when the final squad is decided.
I think Kaká, Benzema and Ronaldo will start. I am not fielding Guti, Arbeloa and Lass and am keeping Granero along with them on the bench again. But it isn’t me but Manuel Pellegrini who will make the final decision. So let us just wait and see.
Probable Starting XI: Real Madrid C.F
The game should be a walk in the park for us. More of a formality than a task. We are in the right spirit with a good win last weekend. We seem to have players in form. And more importantly this is a home game. I am sure we are up for it. If we play like we do every week we will come out victors. We just need to keep it simple.
In other news, as most of you must already be knowing, Russell Crowe visited the Valdebebas yesterday and managed to take quite a few snaps with our stars during his promotion of Robin Hood in Madrid. Also, Veterans of Real Madrid and AC Milan will be clashing once again this season, this time for a good cause. Click here to learn more about it.
Transfer news and I sincerely request all you young Real Madrid fans to not believe the rumors about Carlos Tevez or Wayne Rooney coming to Real Madrid. They are as fake as David Villa accepting a move to Barcelona. On the other hand, the rumor linking Mahamadou Diarra to Manchester United might just be true. Momo is getting no time to play here and might as well feel like plying his trade in some other country now that he is nearing the end of his career. With Metzelder already leaving, Raúl and Guti contemplating whether to honor their contracts or not and Diarra planning to move – Dudek might be the only real veteran in our squad. Casillas, Ramos, Xabi and Kaká all have experience but then again age wise at least these are the players with the real major experience. The latest news regarding Guti is the rumor about him playing in Dubai.
And as far as José Mourinho managing Real Madrid is concerned, you’ve got to admit that you are flattered by the prospective. He is a special man and with a special talent as a manager. But then again, it all comes down to what we want. Do we want to win irrespective of the way we play? Or do we want to win the Real Madrid way? If you don’t understand my point then take this for example. Chelsea was a good club playing some real good football that almost all football fans loved watching before Mourinho took over. The only thing that they did not do was win titles. And then came Mourinho. Fans all over the world started hating Chelsea complaining about their style of play and their tactics. But that wasn’t the only thing that changed. They started winning titles. Even though they missed out on the Champions League they did make it to the last four more than once. It all comes down to what we want. Going by the dry period and the investments from Florentino we must agree that we are in desperate need for silverware. But thinking again, we are Real Madrid and we have a brand. Is Pellegrini maintaining our brand name?
If yes, we have to give him time – at least one more season. He now knows where his team is lacking and what needs to be done to improve them. Who knows, we might just have our best season next year. Pellegrini’s team has only shown signs of improvement. Drastic improvements so to speak. The only thing that needs to be corrected from this season is playing in do-or-die situations. We don’t seem to have enough number of big match players. Not big name players but big match players. The ones who can step up to the next level when the situation calls for it. We do that and we might just be the next set of invincibles. Far fetched or just a possibility?
If no, then we fire him and silverware is still not guaranteed next season. Every manager needs his settling-in period – even the special one. Also, he will definitely tinker with the team composition as much as he wants to so that it fits his game plan. And that means more money spent. Then, his team needs time to adapt thus taking more time. It is only then that we will win titles under him.
Also, there is the major factor about the players wanting to play under him. He is a man who is known to have the magical power of controlling big egos. Pellegrini seems to be doing a good job as far as that is concerned and at the same time is keeping his players happy. Will Mourinho be able to do the same? Ask Balotelli.
Ultimately it all comes down to what we want. What do you want?
I want it sooner rather than later.
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
Post-match comments
Jorge Valdano sung the team’s praises after their gritty 1-2 win against Zaragoza. Real Madrid head coach Manuel Pellegrini stressed his team’s ability to not let their nerves get the best of them. Raul had missed ten days and Kaka had been sidelined for 45, but the duo came off the bench on Saturday to lead Real Madrid to victory. Sergio Ramos and Fernando Gago offered their opinions on the victory shortly after the match concluded.
"The team showed just how mature it is"
Valdano:
Zaragoza were a solid team tonight who really put us in a bind. We were very determined throughout the entire match. Our lives were at stake and Zaragoza were trying to steer clear of the relegation zone.
The referee is there to calm the game down. Zaragoza played their cards and we were prepared to maintain order and discipline.
Raul is a club icon and very important both on and off the pitch. I congratulate him for his effort. We hope we can enjoy watching him play for a long time.
Kaka worked very hard to recover from injury. He is a noble person and an incredible professional. He will prove just that in the many years he has left on his contract. It’s the team that wins matches and we have managed just fine depsite the absence of such a significant player like the former Ballon d’Or winner.
We need players who are extremely focused if we are to remain in the title hunt. We are obligated to remain astute and to take on each match like we did tonight. You never know what weekend might bring some surprises.
Pellegrini:
We have two or three great chances that we didn’t finish in the first half, but we were prepared to play hard until the final whistle. I don’t think we would have deserved the 1-1 draw.
I am always worried when I see the team play anxiously and nervous, but we managed to calm down and earn the win.
Zaragoza were too aggressive and fouled too much.
Kaka has always been an important player for us and he proved it again tonight.
We don’t control our own destiny. Our goal is to reach the 98-point mark and hope that Barcelona slip up.
Pellegrini press conference
Manuel Pellegrini told the media his main objective is to win every game left in the campaign.
"I hope we can win the league title by not dropping any points and focusing just on ourselves"
Zaragoza:
Every opponent will be complicated to defeat at this stage in the season. We are having a great run in La Liga. We’ve been able to make comebacks in difficult moments, fighting hard for the title against a great Barcelona. We’ve taken an incredible number of points already. This squad will showcase it’s character to the end.
Pressure:
We feel the same pressure every week. Tension is always the same because I always want my team to perform at the same high level. We’ve been fighting for the title being level or just slightly behind Barcelona all season. I hope we can win the league title by not dropping any points and focusing just on ourselves. We shouldn’t worry about what Barcelona do or fail to achieve.
Style:
Our style is suited to our characteristics and virtues. We have straightforward players. We combine teamwork with individual efforts. People say we don’t use the wings enough, but I think that’s not true. We wouldn’t have been able to score so many goals if we hadn’t made use of them.
Post-match comments
Manuel Pellegrini was very satisfied with the victory over Valencia. The coach had words of praise for all his men. Valencia coach Unai Emery admitted that his side were simply beaten by a better team. The Real Madrid squad was happy with the victory. Everyone agrees the league is still open.
"I am proud of my men's mental strength"
Pellegrini:
We studied Valencia’s style thoroughly, so I am delighted with the victory. I am proud of my men’s mental strength and fighting spirit.
We’ve won 15 of our 16 home games in La Liga and we’ve also scored an important number of goals. I am very satisfied with what my men do both on and off the pitch. It was very important to win in Almeria and seal that victory with another one here tonight. We are a straightforward and goal-scoring team.
We try to make progress in each game. Our intention is to always win.
I am very happy for Guti. He is having a great run, but we need our 23 men to be in top form if we are to win the title.
Emery:
Madrid has been better and that is reflected on the scoreboard. At Real Madrid’s home ground it is very difficult to stop them because they have great potential. The result is fair and we have not challenged effectively.
We came with the intention of winning the game, but our opponents are competing for the league and have been better than us. The difference is how often they have chances to score and the result, that is the reason for the difference in the table between [everyone else] and Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The first thing is to get back that offensive and defensive strength. We must reinforce our home form and strengthen it on the road. We must win five games. There is no cushion whatsoever, we go match by match. Away from home we must have more chances to win, I am convinced that will change things.
Guti:
We had many chances on goal and managed to control the entire match despite facing a great team.
We are proving the league is far from over. We have to win every game to put pressure on Barcelona. We have to make them feel we are coming closer to them each week. Barcelona and Real Madrid are the two best teams in the championship. The winner of the title will be the side that does best from here on end.
Pellegrini press conference
Manuel Pellegrini analyzed tomorrow’s match against Valencia for the media.
"Valencia are a great opponent and they will make tomorrow's match difficult for us"
Almería:
My team responded by playing a great match in Almeria. My men have always faced up to adversity. Almeria were a complicated opponent and they had been having a good run. We took three points, which is what really matters.
La Liga:
Whichever team wins the title will deserve it. Real Madrid and Barcelona are great goal scorers and have been fighting head to head for the title all year long.
Valencia:
Our next match is always the one we worry about the most. We now face Valencia, a great opponent that will make the match difficult for us. I hope we have sufficient weapons to win.
Post-match comments
Jorge Valdano had nothing but words of praise for Real Madrid following their victory against Almeria. Manuel Pellegrini was pleased with several facets of his team’s performance, but especially their mental preparation. Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael van der Vaart, Gonzalo Higuain and Raul Albiol expressed their thoughts on their important win on Thursday night.
Valdano:
We did a great job and had a lot of scoring chances. We deserved this win and we earned it in a very difficult place to play.
Winning was a must and the team responded magnificently. We got over any jitters and the players put on a great display of professionalism. Our fans really value the fact that we don’t ever give up.
We have champion-worthy numbers. We need to maintain this rhythm to make things as difficult as possible for Barcelona. We don’t control our own destiny, but we know exactly where we stand and will resist losing in every way possible.
Pellegrini:
We played well in many aspects. We managed to recover psychologically, which was very hard after the last match. Tonight we also were more elaborate in creating plays, as we had been in previous matches. We had six or seven clear chances, but Alves had a great night.
The final outcome gives me the impression that the team was wary about Almeria’s chances of equalizing, but we had plenty of chances to increase the lead over the ninety minutes in order not to be so mindful of conceding another goal.
The team will continue fighting every Sunday to be as far on top as possible. We can only wait for Barcelona to slip stumble. Tonight we beat a tough opponent that played very well. There are plenty of points still in play and both we and Barcelona have complicated matches coming up.
Ronaldo:
We managed to win which was all that counted. These were three crucial points. The team played well. We had to win and now we cannot give up. We are Real Madrid and we cannot stop fighting.
Pellegrini press conference
Similar to the mindset of his players, Manuel Pellegrini’s only goal is to win the last seven matches of the season.
"The season ends on 16 May, so we will try to cut into the lead until the very last match"
Title hopes:
We said before the Clasico that whoever won the match still cannot afford to think they are the champion and that whoever lost cannot believe the league is over. The season ends on 16 May, so we will try to cut into the lead until the very last match.
Morale:
This team is able to pick itself up as it has done in the past. Over the last three days I have seen the players get over the loss and focus on what needs to be done. We cannot afford any setbacks and winning the next seven matches is crucial. It is important to be mentally prepared to snatch the three points against Almeria.
Focus:
The league ends on 16 May, so as long as we are mathematically still alive, we need stay focused and upbeat if we are to continue winning like we did over the twelve previous weeks. We will try to win it all. The best thing we can do is win each match that we play starting tomorrow against Almeria. The hardest match is always the next one, which is the one we must win.
Future:
Right now the least of my concerns is my future. I am not worried about what will happen. We will sit down at the appropriate time to discuss options. Right now is not the time. All we must do now is focus on the next seven matches.
Post-match comments
Jorge Valdano refused to concede defeat to Barcelona in the Liga despite the Blaugrana’s win. Joan Laporta was in high spirits. Manuel Pellegrini was disappointed with his team’s defeat, but believes the league is far from over as there are still 21 points in play. Pep Guardiola admitted that it was not a dazzling victory, but one that needed a lot of courage and heart. The Real Madrid squad is “frustrated and hurt” for losing to Barcelona at the Bernabeu, but all the players believe the title can still be won. Messi said that beating Real was the first step to win the title. Andres Iniesta has issued a message of caution to his colleagues after Barcelona defeated Real Madrid, insisting that there are seven vital fixtures to go before the title is theirs. Goalscorer Pedro also discussed his satisfaction at the win, and his joy at netting the decisive second goal that extinguished Real Madrid’s hopes of victory, but was equally as cautious as his teammate, Iniesta.
Valdano:
We need to keep calm. We have to deal with the seven remaining games, and fight until the end. Seven games ago, Barcelona were five points ahead of us and we were able to cut that down. Now we hope to have a second chance.
The support are upset. Once again they got behind the team and I must thank them. I can’t speak ill of the team either, because they battled right until the end.
Laporta:
The important thing was to play the match as we did and take all three points. It was a very tough game but the team worked hard. We dedicate this to all the Barcelonistas throughout the world as we know that this is now a global game. We can’t think about the League Title now. We must be cautious and respectful, as we have been.
Pellegrini:
We lost the ball many times and were defeated by a team that is currently better than us. There are still 21 points in play and Real Madrid is not about to give up. We will keep trying to the very end.
I think my men were anxious to win. Barcelona hardly had any chances on our goal during the first half, but their first strike played a key role. We should have been calmer and had more moments to pause and think.
This is an important defeat, but there are still 21 points at stake. We could have done more things tonight. Barcelona didn’t play at their usual level, but their first goal strengthened their game. I think we could have hurt them much more.
Pellegrini press conference
During Friday’s pre-game press conference, Manuel Pellegrini assured that his team will treat the Clasico as any other match and go for the jugular as soon as possible.
"We want to please our fans that have supported us through thick and thin"
Clasico:
I hope the match flows freely. We are two different teams who play different styles of football, but we are equally effective. Barcelona are also in great form as our point totals reflect. Both teams have to play well in order to win.
Messi:
We aren’t going to base our game on whatever Messi does, but rather on what we can do against Barcelona. This is a team sport, and it’s from within the team that the individual talent must shine through in order to make a difference. It’s technique that makes a difference, not tactics.
Result:
All that matters is that Real Madrid proves why it is the top team in the league. We are confident that we will win. I consider a draw a negative outcome for my team. We have never speculated on the outcome, especially when playing at home, where we haven’t lost all season. We have always sought the opponent’s box from the very start and this time round will be no different.
In the engineer we believe
To me he is just an under-grown, malnutrition-ed cunt but to the rest of the football world: Lionel Messi is the best player in the World. Lionel Messi is Barça’s Messi-ah and the real Next Maradona. Lionel Messi makes the impossible possible. Lionel Messi is on fire. Lionel Messi has left everyone in awe of the best player ever. Lionel Messi has a human nature. Lionel Messi defeated Arsenal 4-1. Lionel Messi is both this and that. And the best of them all – Lionel Messi is God.
So how do we stop Lionel Messi is the question raised now. How will Real Madrid stop a player who already has 39 goals this season? Marca makes it look really simple by saying that the obvious solution, the anti-dote to control the menace of Leo ‘flea’ Messi is none other than Álvaro Arbeloa. They say the right way to control a lefty who plays on the right is by deploying a righty who can play on the left.
I am unsure about the lefty-righty theory they’re using but one thing is clear and that’s the fact that Arbeloa is miles ahead of Marcelo when it comes to defending. But it isn’t just about who is going to defend in the area in which he will attack. Its about the team as a whole. And only one man can influence that – El Inginiero Manuel Pellegrini. Sergio Ramos too, like me, believes in the engineer and while speaking about the Clásico said:
Barcelona have a style of their own. It doesn’t matter who plays because the whole squad has the same philosophy. We’ll have to have a clear idea of what it is we must do and play how Pellegrini wants us to.
That is exactly what we’ll have to do – stick to the engineer’s plan and implement it to perfection. Barça might be all about Xavi and Messi but we must not get carried away while trying to stop them thus letting cunts like Ibrahimović snatch a goal against us like last time out. This time we need to be wary of their unit as a whole. I am not taking anything away from our performance last time around. Except for the goal which should have been disallowed for offside, we did not give them too many chances. We were tight in defense and were sharp on the counter. And all this was away from home when we were just gelling as a team. We are way better now and still haven’t dropped a single point at home in the league. And we seem to have the knack of winning games in a dirty manner – something we haven’t had for a few years now but something that earmarks Champions. So the game is ours for the taking. We are clearly the favorites. Guti, while speaking to Marca, summed up whatever I am trying to say here beautifully:
We could have won the first leg match at Camp Nou. It is now time for us to defeat them at the Bernabeu. I think we can do it. We are strong at home and we will have the support of our fans. We have players who are capable of scoring at any given time.
But then again, we can’t just go out and play without a plan. It all comes back to the manager. The players are the ones who will perform but its the manager’s job to tell them how to do it. And I am sure Manuel Pellegrini knows what to do.
Xabi Alonso gave his thoughts about the game and Real in general in his interview to Marca.
In other news, Michel Salgado has told The Sun that he believes Real may move for Rafa Benitez this summer. I wish to move on.
Moving on, Rubén de la Red underwent a minor procedure day before yesterday to have a mini-Holster heart monitor (a portable device that will continuously monitor various electrical activity of the central nervous system) implanted subcutaneously. According to reports, De La Red will keep the device implanted during the next few months to monitor his heart condition. That’s good news. He will be a welcome addition to the squad for next season.
And finally news from the training ground. Kaká and Drenthe are still out of action. Marca reports that the Brazilian will not even make the squad list for Saturday’s kick-off as will Drenthe. Considering the form he was in before getting “injured” I’d not play him in such an important game after not playing for so many days.
That is about it for today.
Till tomorrow,
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
Post-match comments
Manuel Pellegrini appeared very pleased following his team’s hard-earned victory that gives them the top spot in the table heading into next Saturday’s showdown against Barcelona. Casillas, Albiol and Metzelder dicussed the keys to beating Racing and the forthcoming Clasico shortly after tonight’s win. Real Madrid Castilla’s Marcos Alonso made his first team debut on Sunday by replacing Higuain in the late stages of the match.
Pellegrini:
We need to do what we do on a daily basis in order to win next Saturday. We cannot lose our identity. We will seek the victory and whoever makes the fewest mistakes will win.
Both of us won our matches this weekend. We are up against a great opponent, but I am sure we will win if we focus and stick to our football.
The Clasico is just another match that has to be played and it is followed by more matches. We cannot make any mistakes from here on out because we won’t be facing any easy teams.
Casillas:
Our defense was outstanding and we managed to keep a clean sheet. We did a good job. Saturday’s Clasico is just another match on the calendar. It will be fun. I am shocked about how many points we both have. It’s quite unusual.
Albiol:
We knew this would be a tough match. Racing had a lot at stake, but we knew how important it was to win and keep pace with Barcelona. Racing got few chances on goal, but we can never let our guard down with a 0-1 advantage. Once we scored the second we were able to take our foot off the gas a little.
Metzelder:
We had to win no matter what. The fact that we didn’t concede any goals and that we are leaders again is good news. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid are winning all their matches, so I am sure next week’s game will be crucial. However, there are still other difficult matches to be played, meaning that Saturday’s will not decide who wins La Liga.
Marcos Alonso:
All you think about when sitting on the bench is playing. If the score is in your favor, you think it may just be your day. Today I sensed it, which is why it is the happiest day of my life.
My grandfather [Marquitos] only ever speaks about Real Madrid. My who family was here and they are thrilled, but I am even more so.
I will continue working my hardest to be here every Sunday. It’s not easy to make room for yourself in a club like Real Madrid. Castilla players are there waiting for the call, so joining the first team is the greatest thing that can happen.
“Our defense was outstanding and we managed to keep a clean sheet. We did a good job.”
“Saturday’s Clasico is just another match on the calendar. It will be fun. I am shocked about how many points we both have. It’s quite unusual.”
Albiol:
“We knew this would be a tough match. Racing had a lot at stake, but we knew how important it was to win and keep pace with Barcelona. Racing got few chances on goal, but we can never let our guard down with a 0-1 advantage. Once we scored the second we were able to take our foot off the gas a little.”
Metzelder:
“We had to win no matter what. The fact that we didn’t concede any goals and that we are leaders again is good news. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid are winning all their matches, so I am sure next week’s game will be crucial. However, there are still other difficult matches to be played, meaning that Saturday’s will not decide who wins La Liga.”
Pellegrini press conference
Manuel Pellegrini insisted the team has its eyes focused solely on Sunday’s match against Racing Santander during today’s press conference.
"We have kept this streak alive because we always consider the next match more difficult"
La Liga run-in:
For me, the most important match is always the next one. We are focused on this match and have not even thought about Barcelona. The players have thought about nothing other than the Racing match. I always say that the most important match of the season is the next one of the schedule because when you think you don’t have to play so hard is when you don’t earn the kind of results you want.
Current form:
We have kept this streak alive because we always consider the next match more difficult. It is important that we score a lot of goals, but breaking the 107-goal record is definitely not something we talk about in the locker room. We always seek the opponent’s goal from the minute the ball is kicked off. The way we start against Racing will be very important and we need to maintain that same rhythm for ninety minutes.
Suspensions:
We have to earn a victory with the players we have available. I have complete faith in the players when they aren’t available, whether it’s due to bookings or injuries, because there are others than can fill in.
Just another Madridista
Hala Madrid 
De la Red, Green and Blue
My heart still beats... Real Madrid of course... I am not a ZOMBIE for heaven's sake...
Happy Diwali to all.
Its a Friday and we are now a day closer to El Derbi Madrileño. Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will go head to head in our first Madrid derby of the season on Sunday at the Bernabeu at 21:00 CET. The last time we played Atleti at home we won (just like the previous zillion times that we played them) so I am guessing this one would be no different. Yeah, yeah Europa League champions blah blah. They’re still Atletico and we are still Real (As tempted as I was to type FOR real instead of still Real I am trying to refrain myself from sounding corny). I’ll be frank here and admit that I have no team news with me, so when it comes to that my guess is as good as yours.
What I am equipped with tonight is stuff about Ruben De la Red (No, you corrupt buffoons not Ruben De la Red’s stuff). As you all probably know by now Ruben De la Red has officially retired from all forms of football. The Spaniard had been diagnosed with a mysterious heart condition after this incident but still had his contract running with Real Madrid until this week when he decided to call it a day. As depressing as it was, the good news here was that Ruby would still be working with Real Madrid not as a player but as a coach shunting between Alejandro Menendez and Jose Mourinho so as to develop his abilities as a coach giving him a career alternative. This would apparently go on until his contract with Real expired. The former Spanish international then attended a press conference where he made a statement regarding the same along with Director General Jorge Valdano and the other top brass of Real Madrid C.F.
He then mentioned about JM and his conversation with the boss. He said:
Valdano then appraised the press with De la Red’s exact job description:
Javier Pastore and Gareth Bale are creating ripples in Europe. While Pastore is more of a Batman limiting himself to his Gotham City viz. Palermo, Bale seems to be like He-Man creating ripples around the universe as the next Lionel Messi/the next Ryan Giggs/Gareth Bale v2.0 and what-frikkin’-not. I am confident that we don’t need either of them and would do much better without them at least at this moment. One dude we could possibly do with is Romelu Lukaku. Recently CRon spoke about the Belgian Drogba to the press and seemed quite impressed by the Anderlecht man. We do need a number 9 and he is young. JM likes it young and fresh. Bah! Just fit the pieces and you’ll see the story.
Lass is being linked away for the umpteenth time this season. Ergo I choose to ignore.
And finally for those who are interested, Manuel Pellegrini has found himself another job. No guys, not as a miner in Chile. He will be managing Malaga. He replaced pornstar Jesulado who will be returning to Dickville to fulfill his dream of directing a porn film. Good luck Manu. We still love you. It wasn’t you it was just me.
Right then. We will soon be hearing about the Squad List for tomorrow from the club and probably even have a presser to talk about. But I’ll give that a raincheck as I am heading out to have a nice and filling dinner with my mates…
Ah, like you guys even care…
Later then.
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
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November 5, 2010 | Categories: Comments, News, Press Conference, Transfer Rumours | Tags: El Derbi Madrileño, Gareth Bale, Javier Pastore, Jorge Valdano, Lassana Diarrà, Manuel Pellegrini, Rubén de la Red | Leave a comment