Pellegrini defends record after Lyon defeat

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MADRID, Feb 20, 2010 (AFP) - Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini, who has been heavily criticised for the 1-0 defeat away to Lyon in the Champions League this week, on Saturday defended his performance at the Spanish giants.

"This project was phenomenal before we played in Lyon and because we lost a Champions League match you can't say that now everything is a disaster," the 56-year-old Chilean told a news conference.

"The numbers we are earning support the club's project and the players, but there is still a lot we can do to improve. Nevertheless, I don't think losing 1-0 is reason enough to discredit the entire squad," he added.

Pellegrini has been under pressure since Real's Champions League last-16 first-leg loss to Lyon on Tuesday, with Spain's sports media criticising him for failing to place new stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka into a coherent team structure.

His decision to start the match with Mahamadou Diarra, who was just back after a lengthy injury lay-off, in defensive midfield instead of Lassana Diarra has also been widely attacked by the press.

"Our system didn't change at all against Lyon. Lassana had only played one game, the previous one, after missing two weeks. The rest played in their usual positions. There are no differences between Lassana and Diarra, they have the same characteristics," said Pellegrini.

Spanish sports daily Marca, which has close ties with Real, reported on Friday that the club wants to replace Pellegrini with Inter Milan's Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho next season.

The report prompted Real midfielder Esteban Granero to say the squad is fully behind Pellegrini despite the setback against Lyon.

"We have a coach in whom we have confidence and who is doing things very well. We don't want any other. We hope he stays for many years. We will be with him to the death and we believe in his playing philosophy," he said.

The Chilean coach, a qualified civil engineer, joined Real from Villarreal in June 2009 after leading the Spanish club to a fifth-place finish last term.

Since 2000 Real have had ten coaches, an average of one per year: Vicente del Bosque, Carlos Queiroz, Jose Antonio Camacho, Mariano Garcia Remon, Wanderley Luxemburgo, Juan Ramon Lopez Caro, Fabio Capello, Bernd Schuster, Juande Ramos and Pellegrini.