The Chilean-born coach highlights the “amazing atmosphere” at La Rosaleda, and is extremely pleased with the team’s performance: “We went out there with a cool head and maintained our focus to ensure we didn’t concede a goal.  The first 15 minutes of play was a bit tense, but we were the superior side for the remainder of the match and definitely deserved to win.”
 
“We came back from a disappointing game in Portugal, although FC Porto’s goal was clearly offside,” affirms the Málaga CF coach, who adds: “We intend to keep on playing the best football we can and continue on in the Champions League.”
 
Looking ahead to the Champions League quarter-finals, Pellegrini would prefer to avoid the other two Spanish teams in the competition, Real Madrid and Barcelona: “I think the best thing for Spanish football would be if we weren’t competing against each other.  Porto are one of the best teams in Europe and we knocked them out of the competition.  If we are eliminated in the future, then we’ll make sure we go out with a bang!”

Isco Alarcón, who scored the Blue and Whites’ first goal of the match, appeared in the mixed zone: “Following our defeat in the first leg in Portugal, we completely turned the result around, by playing excellent football.  Everyone is so happy we’ve made it to the quarter-finals.”