Former Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini calls his stint at Real Madrid the ‘most painful’ time in his 29-year managerial career
FORMER Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has sensationally called his time at Real Madrid the “most painful” period in his career.
The Chilean chief, 63, has revealed he didn’t enjoy his time at the Bernabeu, as he failed to win the La Liga crown – despite setting a club points record with 96.
Pellegrini called his Los Blancos squad – whom he managed between 2009 and 2010 – “incomplete” and lamented the “bitter taste” left in his mouth.
The now-Hebei China Fortune boss sensationally claimed: “The period at Real Madrid was the most painful of my career.
“The team wasn’t complete and I had some obvious problems to deal with.
“I left with a bitter taste in my mouth at not winning the title despite have a record points total.
“We did sign some big stars, but we had a lot of forwards and few midfielders and the players I wanted to keep were sold.
“In addition, Cristiano Ronaldo spent a good portion of the season injured.
“I’d have liked to have more time as many players arrived that year and sometimes it takes time for them to gel in the best possible way.”
Pellegrini did go on to say he enjoyed working with the big-name stars, adding : “It is easier than you would think to train those players.
“The Real Madrid squad at that time had great players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Xabi [Alonso] and [Karim] Benzema.
“When the players with the biggest egos are the first to arrive for training and the last to leave, then everything is easier.”
