Valdano pledges support to Pellegrini

(GSM) – Real Madrid general manager Jorge Valdano has offered his backing to under-fire coach Manuel Pellegrini after Los Blancos were knocked out of the Champions League by Olympique Lyon.

Real could only manage a 1-1 home draw in the second leg of their last 16 tie, losing out 2-1 on aggregate and failing to make the quarter-finals of the competition for the sixth successive season.

However, Valdano insisted the club has faith in Pellegrini: “We will respect him because we believe in his work, although we know that the coach of Madrid is always accompanied by controversy.

“He has a contract for next season and the plan is that he will continue being our coach. The season hasn’t finished and there are still things to fight for.”

Pellegrini also vowed to battle on to try and ensure a successful end to the campaign, adding: “I’m not going to resign, I’m not going to quit the fight.

“Of course we’re all very disappointed because we wanted to go far in this competition, but I’ve never thought about resigning.

“I see myself in exactly the same situation as I saw myself yesterday, though obviously with the bitter disappointment of the failure and being knocked out.

“My future depends only on the board, the only thing I can do is continue working as until now.”