"Our debut at the Bernabeu is important to us" Pellegrini press conference

Manuel Pellegrini gave a press conference the day before his team's Bernabeu debut in the Peace Cup.

One week and a half ago you said it would be ideal to have the final squad pretty much determined by 27 July. How do you think this is coming along?
I said that, but I added that it was important not to make mistakes, that we should make the right decisions. We'll wait longer if we must.

You wanted a full back and two midfielders. Do you think Xabi Alonso will join the team?
I don't talk about individual players. I am very happy with Granero's arrival because I think he can be important for the team. He also happens to be an academy player. We'll see what happens in the future.

Rafa Benitez recommeneded Alonso to stay at Liverpool. What  do you think of that?
I don't have an opinion on what he said. he must have his reasons for saying so. He knows both the player and the club well enough. I don't talk about non-Real Madrid players, and I make even less comments on what other coaches say.

Is it uncomfortable for you to have to work with so many players?
Well, it isn't an ideal situation. I wish the squad was tighter by now, but it isn't a big deal. We train normally and there is a good atmosphere on the team. Every player tries to do his best. Our duty is to do the same job with every footballer we have and we'll keep on doing so.

How is Cristiano Ronaldo adapting to the team?
He's adapted well to the squad and to the style we want the team to have.


Has his fast adaptation surprised you?
No. I already knew he was a professional. His performance so far has been perfect.

What's wrong with Pepe?
He is niggled and we don't want to risk him getting seriously injured. These are friendly games in which we aren't looking for a starting lineup. We'll rotate our players and they will all follow specific recovery programmes. Pepe will play when he's fit.

Ronaldo stuck to the right wing in the first game and looked less dangerous. Do you want him to play closer to the box next time?
These are firendlies. We are giving every footballer a chance to play and we are trying out different opptions. We haven't started to try out a defined starting 11 yet. Ronaldo will sometimes play down the wing and will sometimes be positioned as a striker. He is comfortable anywhere in attack.

The players have praised your work and your atttitude. Do you always strive for closeness with your men?
I've always worked this way. I'm happy with how things are turning out.

The Peace cup is an important friendly tournament. Will you use the same system?
Every game is undoubtedly important, but our main priority is to prepare the team for the season. The priority in a friendly should never be to earn a good result because we should use these games to prepare ourselves for what's to come. We'll see something different to what we saw in Ireland tomorrow. Our game on Tuesday will also be different.


Many people expect to see Cirstiano Ronaldo as the best player in the world tomorrow. How good is the atmosphere surrounding preparations for the match?
People are not a problem; they just like to see players at their best. Adapting to a new team takes time. We work on resistance and strength, and we have to prepare each player carefully. Every player is following the same workout routine.

Is having a good debut good for a player's self-esteem?
They are all important. The better they play the happier they are. It's important to learn during the preseason and to avoid being hasty. I nevertheless think it's logical for fans and the press to want this.

Valdano said Huntelaar's role will be secondary. Will he play tomorrow?
I've spoken to every player and Huntelaar knows what I want. We have many strikers on the team and they can't all stay. Everybody knows how goood he is. We have an excess of strikers right now and he knows there is no place for him.

You spoke with Heinze yesterday. Do you count on him?
I've spoken to all of them to evaluate their performances and analyse their situation. They all know where they stand.

Your seasons at Villarrreal always had a strong start, followed by a downside that in turn was followed by a strong end to the campaign. Is that your idea for this year?
I didn't always have a downside in January, but we did always end the season well. Our physical preparation aims at playing well in our last eight to ten games.

Is everything at Real Madrid as you imagined it to be?
I feel comfortable here. I've been well received both inside and outside the Club. I am also having a good relationship with my men.

Do you think you'll feel some sort of pressure tomorrow?
We will try to do our best in the Peace Cup in order to win, but we will not modify our plan just for the tournament.

Will your debut at the Bernabeu be special?
It is always important to make your debut at the Bernabeu, but neither that nor the presence of Benzema and Ronaldo will change the fact that this is just a friendly, just another step in our preparations for the coming season.

Will you use two different lineups in each half again?
We will only be able to make five substitutions tomorrow. Most of my men will play between 60 and 70 minutes.

Have you changed your mind regarding some of the players you didn't count on at first?
Not much because I already knew most of them. But some have surprised me. Dudek hardly played last year and I have seen he is a great professional and a top-quality goalkeeper. Many have proven their worth, but few have actually surprised me.

________________________________________Raul__________Benzema___________________


_______________________________________________Kaka_______________

___________________________Ronaldo___________________________________Robben___________________

______________________________________________Xabi Alonso_______________________________

________________________Marcelo________Pepe_______________R.Albiol_______________S.Ramos______________


______________________________________________Casillas_____________________________________________

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