Pellegrini’s statements:
(Start of 2012). “We have the Copa del Rey with a very important rival, and we’re going to try and put together the best team to get a good result. We’re going to be facing a very good team who are going through a very good patch.”
(1st January – open training session). “They're a constant. The public have supported the team throughout the year and we felt it was important to have a session open to the public on the first day of the New Year. I think it was a hit, although it can’t always happen as we have a very important job to do in private. But yesterday was appropriate and I’m glad that everyone enjoyed the day.”
(Future). “It’s an important project and we have to grow in all areas so that Málaga becomes a constant in Europe, as well as growing year on year in Spain. The sporting aspect is the part that transcends it all and it would be important to achieve it.”
(Copa del Rey). “We’re going to try and qualify with Málaga’s play, we not looking for a 0-0. If we don’t get through it’ll be because of Real Madrid’s merit, not because of our weaknesses. I always think that Ruud – Van Nistelrooy – is excited; he’s just been named as the most important goal scorer of the decade and he wants to score more goals, as we all do, but it’s a team thing and if Ruud plays or someone else does, we’re going out to seek qualification through Málaga’s play.”
(Real Madrid). “We’ve got a difficult January coming up with major rivals, but we’ll do the assessments at the end of May. We’ll see what happens tomorrow, we’re hoping to get a good result, which is not to lose and to get goals. If we can’t win, we hope to draw; and if we lose we hope to get goals and play the same football as in all matches. (Real Madrid) are a team characterised by their counter-attacks, the tough pressure they out on, they steal the ball, and they have some decisive players upfront.”
(Ambitious project). “My hope, and that of the coaching staff and the players, is exactly that of the people of Málaga – to finish as far up the table as possible. I don’t worry about one certain opponent or winning one certain match, for me the overall project is bigger that any one individual thing.”
