Director General Jorge Valdano shared his thoughts on tonight’s draw and the overall season. Manuel Pellegrini analysed the team’s season following the 1-1 draw in Malaga. The squad was sad for not winning the title, but all the players are aware of the great season they’ve had.
"This was an extraordinary La Liga run"
Valdano:
We are Real Madrid. History has shown we always know how to win or lose. Two teams had a great run this season, breaking several records along the way.
As Barcelona scored their goals the tension of our match decreased, but not for Malaga. Their life was at stake. You could tell by their players and the crowd.
Barcelona had the advantage and made good use of it. We should congratulate them for being worthy champions.
We are as excited as we were at the start of the year because this is a long-term project. We knew how great the challenge was. We stood firm in the race for the title.
We have a lot of time ahead of us to decide which way we should go for next year. There won’t be as many changes as there were last year, but we will have to make some adjustments to reach the highest quality and get over this season.
Pellegrini:
We knew it was going to be difficult for Barcelona to lose the title, but our intention here was to win and hope they earned a complicated result.
We had an extraordinary run in La Liga and the numbers we earned prove this. It’s never a good year when you don’t win a title, but the team’s work in the league may be positively valued later on.
It’s logical for there to be great assessments after a season at a great club like Real Madrid, but it is not my place to publically defend my job.
We have to work much more to correct certain aspects of our game and to surpass a team that plays excellent football and has been doing so for a long time. People may realise in the future just how difficult it is to take so many points and to earn the numbers we have.
We knew Malaga were tough as locals and they were fighting to avoid relegation. We could have won the match in the second half, but our morale was influenced by what Barcelona were doing. I am glad Malaga remain in the First Division.
I wish to thank my men for the season they had. They are hard workers and they set a great example both on and off the pitch. They had a brilliant run in la Liga, but their work hasn’t been properly valued because we didn’t win the title and we fought against a great Barcelona. I am very grateful to them. We can’t conform ourselves with being runners-up in the future. We have to continue cutting distances shorter with Barcelona.
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May 17, 2010 | Categories: Post-match Comments, Spanish Primera División | Tags: Esteban Granero, Ezequiel Garay, Jorge Valdano, La Rosaleda, Manuel Pellegrini, Málaga CF, Raúl Albiol, Sergio Ramos | Leave A Comment »
Real Madrid sealed the league with a draw against Malaga at La Rosaleda. The Whites never gave up against the locals, who manage to remain in the First Division thanks to the score. Goalkeeper Munua was a local hero. Duda and Van der Vaart were the goal-scorers.
- Season ends with draw at La Rosaleda
Real Madrid were focused on winning and had their first chance on goal within the first minute when Ronaldo sent the ball over the crossbar following a killer pass on the goal-line by Marcelo. Malaga responded through Duda, but Casillas saved the striker’s shot. The locals played a rather tough game, especially on Cristiano Ronaldo, who stoically withstood all the kicks and tackles he received. Then, Duda pulled rank and scored the opener following a good collective effort on the 7-minute mark.
Pellegrini’s men were hit hard by this and the match grew a bit messy, but they soon started to get their chances on goal again. Higuain missed the target with a shot from outside the box (16′), Ronaldo forced a save with a header on the 24-minute mark, and Van der Vaart nearly scored from a spectacular bicycle-kick five minutes later. Malaga worked very hard and well to keep the Madridistas in check before half-time. Real Madrid never ceased to look for a goal, but either bad aim or Munua’s skills kept them from scoring.
After half-time, the goalkeeper saved the day yet again when Marcelo came close to netting an equaliser. Three minutes later, Van der Vaart turned 180º and defeated him with a spectacular shot that grazed the inside of the right post (48′).
Real Madrid didn’t relax and kept looking for a winner. Pellegrini replaced Gago with Guti to make the game flow better. The midfielder helped the team get more chances, but Munua stood his ground firmly. The coach then made Benzema come on for Granero, but with 20 minutes left in the game victory still eluded the Whites. The French striker came close to netting winners twice, but his shots were saved by the goalie. The draw served Malaga to avoid relegation and they simply focused on defending. Duda was sent off in injury time right before the game came to an end.
Lineups:
Málaga: Munúa, J. Gámez, Iván González, Hélder Rosario, Mtiliga, Apoño, Benachour (Albert Luque 84′), Duda, Fernando, Javi López (Juanito 80′), Caicedo (Obinna 61′);
Real Madrid: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Albiol, Garay, Marcelo, Xabi Alonso, Gago (Guti H. 61′), Granero (Benzema 73′), Van der Vaart (Drenthe 82′), Higuaín, Cristiano Ronaldo;
Goals:
1-0, 9′: Duda;
1-1, 50′: Van der Vaart;
Referee: Mr. Undiano Mallenco
Booked: J. Gámez, Hélder Rosario, Albert Luque, Obinna, Guti, Van der Vaart, Higuain, Ronaldo;
Sent off: Duda
Notes: La Liga, Matchday 38.
Venue: La Rosaleda.
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May 17, 2010 | Categories: Match Reports, Spanish Primera División | Tags: Duda, La Rosaleda, Málaga CF, Rafael van der Vaart | Leave A Comment »
Just another Madridista
Post-match comments
Director General Jorge Valdano shared his thoughts on tonight’s draw and the overall season. Manuel Pellegrini analysed the team’s season following the 1-1 draw in Malaga. The squad was sad for not winning the title, but all the players are aware of the great season they’ve had.
"This was an extraordinary La Liga run"
Valdano:
Pellegrini:
(more…)
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May 17, 2010 | Categories: Post-match Comments, Spanish Primera División | Tags: Esteban Granero, Ezequiel Garay, Jorge Valdano, La Rosaleda, Manuel Pellegrini, Málaga CF, Raúl Albiol, Sergio Ramos | Leave A Comment »