Under-fire Real coach brushes off criticism

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini sought to put aside a series of poor results that have reportedly left him on the brink of losing his job, saying the pressure only makes him stronger.

“Personally, I feel stronger when things get difficult,” he told a news conference Friday.

Real’s ‘new Galaticos’ were humiliated 4-0 on Tuesday by third division minnows Alcorcon in the Spanish Cup. That came on the back of last weekend’s goalless draw with Sporting Gijon and defeat to AC Milan in the Champions League.

The big-spending club is next in action against Getafe in the league on Saturday and against AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday, and Spanish media say one more loss could mean Pellegrini’s ouster.

The Chilean, who took over last summer, denied that his plan for the club had now collapsed.

“It was a disastrous week, but we only lost the first leg. We will come back at home, it’s not over. If we win tomorrow at Getafe we can be leaders of the Liga, and leaders in the Champions League on Tuesday with a good result in Milan.

“Reaching the bottom is when you have lost everything and this team has a lot to say,” he said.

He also denied any rift with midfielder Jose Maria “Guti” Gutierrez, with whom he reportedly clashed during the match at Alcorcon.

Pellegrini said the player has been left out of the squad to face Getafe “not because he has been punished or has been insolent, but because he is getting over an injury.”