World NewsPellegrini Delighted With Win |
REAL Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini was delighted to see his side end their 18-year hoodoo at the Riazor but played down suggestions the 3-1 victory might have been their best performance of the season.
No Madrid team had returned from Deportivo La Coruna's home ground with a win since the 1991/92 season, and each of their previous six visits to the Riazor had ended in defeat.On top of that Madrid were without eight senior players, including top scorers Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo, and had earlier in the evening slipped eight points behind Barcelona following the champions' win over Sporting Gijon.
The pressure was on Madrid, who had taken just one point from their previous two away games, but they responded with a magnificent first half display that saw them score twice through Esteban Granero and Karim Benzema and go close on a number of other occasions.
Madrid were not as convincing after the break, but still held onto record the victory with Benzema netting his second in injury time after fifth placed Depor had pulled a goal back moments earlier through Riki's penalty.
"I'm very happy for the win because traditionally it's a very difficult ground for Real Madrid. The team have played a very good game and we are pleased," said Pellegrini, who nevertheless felt the performance was not better than anything else they have produced this campaign.
"I think this team has played very good matches throughout the season. Honestly I don't think it's been the best game.
"I think we had as good a game in Bilbao (1-0 defeat to Athletic in previous away match), although there we lost. We went out to take the initiative from the first moment."
Madrid midfielder Guti, whose audacious back-heel set up Benzema for their second goal, believes the victory showed they are a great side.
Apart from Higuain and Ronaldo, Madrid were also without Pepe, Ezequiel Garay, Rafael van der Vaart, Lassana Diarra, Fernando Gago and Mahamadou Diarra, and Pellegrini was forced to name four youngsters from the reserve side on the bench.
That stretched Madrid's resources to the limit, but they overcame those problems to record a crucial victory that keeps them within touching distance of Barca.
"We hadn't won here for many years. We has a great first half, creating many chances," said Guti on television channel La Sexta.
"We've shown that we are a great team and we are still fighting."
Copyright (c) 2009 Press Association
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