Manuel Pellegrini was appointed the manager of Real Madrid back in June 2009 and signed a contract for two years at the time.
It was under his command that Los Blancos signed superstars including Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso, all of whom went on to become club legends.
Despite having a super team at his disposal, however, Pellegrini’s team failed to win La Liga, the UEFA Champions League or the Copa del Rey, paving the way for his departure.
Speaking to the media in a recent interview, the former Real Madrid and current Real Betis manager Pellegrini commented on his time at Valdebebas and his departure from the club.
The Chilean tactician began by recalling how he handled things when he was leaving Los Blancos in 2010 and his feelings at the time.
“Leaving Real Madrid was a sad moment for me because any coach dreams of directing Real Madrid and I would have loved to continue for many years.”
Elaborating on why he opted to step down from the prestigious post, Pellegrini said it was down to the team’s failure to win the UCL.
“Not winning the Champions League with Real Madrid was the reason why I ended my contract with the club, since they were waiting for this title for many years.”
Pellegrini oversaw one of the strongest dressing rooms in Real Madrid’s history with several football greats under his command.
“The management of Real Madrid’s locker room was very easy for me, and dealing with stars like Ronaldo, Alonso, Benzema and Ramos, and my relationship with them was crucial to get the best out of them,” he said when asked about the dressing room.
Pellegrini was then asked to dissect why Real Madrid were seen as one of the greatest clubs in football history and what helped them reach that title.
“Real Madrid’s rivals recognize their greatness, the club is led by the experienced Ancelotti and its president, Perez, is a cunning negotiator who signs the best players.”
The Real Betis coach even admitted he did not know how the men in white do it time and time again in the UEFA Champions League despite the overwhelming pressure.
“It is not easy to explain the reasons why Real Madrid dominates the Champions League despite the difficulties and not play with a striker.”
Finally, the former Real Madrid coach was asked about Kylian Mbappe’s arrival and the impact the Frenchman will have on the team.
“The arrival of Mbappe at Real Madrid is natural because the club is used to signing stars and will be an important player for them to win titles, especially the European Champions League.”
Source: Mundo Deportivo