Pellegrini’s statements:
 
(Players out): “It’s not easy when you have injured players, and for different reasons, but we’re confident, happy with the squad, and now’s the time to demonstrate it.”

(Málaga): “In terms of the season, we’ve gone good through patches, halves and matches, but the main thing is getting the results and with regularity in order to fight in this competitive league.  We’re ready to demonstrate the positions we’re in.  Our objectives are to demonstrate that we can compete with those fighting for Europe week by week.”

(Garrido): “He’s been at Villareal for a long time, not only leading matches but also on the training side of things.  He’s a man who’s very involved with the club.”
 
(Villarreal): “They had it tough in Champions which has been shown in ‘La Liga’.  Now they have to turn it around.  They’re a difficult rival, a team from a solid institution with more than 10 years demonstrating that they can compete in various leagues.  There's the philosophy that presides from the institution from many years ago, working on both the training and the battle to be in the top positions in the competitions.”

(Time at Villarreal): “I have good memories from my time there, both personal and sporting ones.  I have many friends there, and in the instutuion.”

(Battle for European positions): “The more distance there is between the teams who, in theory, are going to fight for Europe, the better.  There’s no decisive advantage, that’s football, but it’s important to get into these top positions and to try and maintain them.  We’re looking to maintain our fifth position now and we aspire to move up further.”