Real Madrid coach mulls over final squad
Monday, 27 July 2009
MADRID, July 26 (AFP): Real Madrid still has still not determined what its final squad and its starting 11 will be for the upcoming season, new coach Manuel Pellegrini said Saturday.
The Spanish giants spent over 200 million euros on new players in the pre-season, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Kaka, and earlier this month Pellegrini said he hoped to have the final squad ironed out by July 27 when all of the club's internationals returned from holidays.
"I said that, but I added that it was important not to make mistakes, that we should make the right decisions. We'll wait longer if we must," the Chilean coach told a news conference ahead of Real's friendly at home Sunday against Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad.
"I wish the squad was tighter by now, but it isn't a big deal. We train normally and there is a good atmosphere in the team. Every player tries to do his best. Our duty is to do the same job with every footballer we have and we'll keep on doing so," he added.
Real's spending spree has left it with an overcrowded dressing room as the club has been less successful at offloading players than it has been at recruiting new ones.
The Spanish giants spent over 200 million euros on new players in the pre-season, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Kaka, and earlier this month Pellegrini said he hoped to have the final squad ironed out by July 27 when all of the club's internationals returned from holidays.
"I said that, but I added that it was important not to make mistakes, that we should make the right decisions. We'll wait longer if we must," the Chilean coach told a news conference ahead of Real's friendly at home Sunday against Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad.
"I wish the squad was tighter by now, but it isn't a big deal. We train normally and there is a good atmosphere in the team. Every player tries to do his best. Our duty is to do the same job with every footballer we have and we'll keep on doing so," he added.
Real's spending spree has left it with an overcrowded dressing room as the club has been less successful at offloading players than it has been at recruiting new ones.