Malaga sack manager Jesualdo Ferreira - Manuel Pellegrini favourite to take over

Málaga’s 2-1 defeat to Real Sociedad at La Rosaleda last Sunday saw the team plunge into the bottom three for the first time this season, prompting Qatari owner Sheikh Abdullah to finally lose patience with manager Jesualdo Ferreira. The loss to the txuri-urdin means the Costa del Sol side have not picked up a point at home in five games, and the former Porto boss has paid the price by being axed after just nine league games in charge.

It’s all a far cry from the mood of optimism which swept through the club only two months ago, the €17 million outlay on new players promising better times ahead for the long-suffering fans. After the game at the weekend the mood around the stadium was one of dejection, but despite the whistles and waving of pañuelos at the final whistle it seemed the fans were still prepared to give Ferreira more time to get it right. Not so the Sheikh, who decided to act before things deteriorated further.

Admittedly the fixture list hasn’t been kind; the first four fixtures at home - Valencia, Sevilla, Villarreal and Real Madrid - couldn’t have been much tougher, though Ferreira has possibly been the architect of his own downfall. Of his buys only Owusu-Abeiye and Rondón have come up to anything like scratch, while the jury is still out on the others - Sandro Silva, Sebástian Fernández and Malagueño, along with goalkeepers Galatto and Ruben - who have all been out injured at one time or another

The Osasuna away game two weeks ago was the first time this season the strikers have failed to hit the back of the net, so no complaints on that score, but the 21 goals conceded in just 9 games is totally unacceptable. Last year Málaga narrowly avoided going down by a single point, yet only conceded 48 goals; this was one less than fourth-placed Sevilla and only bettered by six teams in the division. However, Ferreira still felt the need to go out and buy two centre-backs in Stadsgaard and Malagueño (who is still to make his league debut), meaning the defence was top-heavy in that department. Youngster Iván González was a regular at the heart of the defence last season alongside Weligton - this year he has played a solitary game and hardly gets to sit on the bench! Ferreira obviously didn’t fancy him, but it doesn’t make it any less puzzling. .

To give Ferreira some credit his policy of playing a 4-3-3 attacking system - he employed it successfully at Porto - was admirable, as witnessed by the five goals in the opening 34 minutes at Zaragoza, yet when his team came under the cosh in certain games he didn’t have a Plan ‘B’ to fall back on. His tactics have also earned him a fair amount of criticism from local reporters - his miserable demeanour did not endear himself to them - and he fell out with a journalist from respected sports daily Marca when he refused to answer questions in a press conference, leading to the other assembled hacks walking out en masse.

The policy of buying up-and-coming young players instead of tried and trusted pros was always going to be a risky one, but it has still been a surprise that Sheikh Abdullah has lost faith after such a short time. Even so, he is a businessman and expects some kind of return on his investment, which is why he has reorganised the club from top to bottom.

At the moment Ferreira’s replacement looks certain to be ex-Real Madrid and Villarreal boss Manuel Pellegrini. Sources from Fox Sports television channel indicate that the Chilean will be flying into Málaga on Wednesday to finalise details on a two and a half year contract.

Courtesy of Dave Redshaw - (Author of ‘Málaga Football Club - The Story’)

Interview with Duda of Malaga

Duda came back from the World Cup in South Africa with a pubis injury and has still to kick a ball this season for Malaga CF. During this interview with David Redshaw, he spoke of his injury, the new sheik in charge of the club and manager Jesualdo Ferreira, who only hours ago has been sacked, with ex-Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini currently the favourite to take over. It would appear a shocking set of results at home, the last of which was to Real Sociedad, is what has spurred Sheik Abdullah into action.

You’re now kicking a ball again. How’s it going?

“Very well, I’m getting better every day. There’s no point being negative about it and I hope to be back soon, but it’s important to gain confidence once more.”

Do you regret having delayed your surgery?

“Not at all. It was a difficult decision but I’d never had pubis problems before, and having talked with the specialists we initially decided on treatment rather than going under the knife. However, six weeks later it had still not responded so they told me it was best to operate.”

What has been the worst thing about being out?

“The loneliness and having to do all the running on my own. It’s the first time I’ve been out for any length of time but I’ve got to make the most of it. I’m well on the road to recovery and it shouldn’t be too long now.”

What do you think of the team?

“I’m enjoying watching them. We are improving bit by bit but we’ve lacked a bit at the back. I hope we’ll soon be more solid because we have no problem scoring goals.”

Everybody wants you back. What would be your best position in the 4-3-3 system?

“I don’t think about where would be best. I just want to get back playing and then I’ll do what the manager asks of me and help my teammates. Jesualdo Ferreira is a manager I like and he commands a lot of respect in Portugal.”

What can you tell us about Sheikh Abdullah?

“I learned he had bought Málaga during the World Cup. The club has changed 100% and it’s gone from being a selling one to a buying one - that’s very important. Apart from that the transformation has been incredible. Somebody with power has now come in and he is showing that he wants to build a big established club.”

 

With thanks to David Redshaw of Euro Weekly and Malaga Matchday Programme.

REAL MADRID SACK MANUEL PELLEGRINI - Chilean put out of his misery

The worst kept secret in Spanish Football was confirmed today as Real Madrid manager Manuel Pellegrini was sacked by Florentino Perez. As the club lined up Jose Mourinho to take the reins, Pellegrini had been on the Bernabeus version of death row. He knew his fate was sealed, it was simply a matter of when. Just as winning the league wasn't good enough for Fabio Capello to keep his job, a record Liga points haul and over 100 goals wasn't enough for Pellegrini, who becomes Florentinos sixth managerial victim. They played some exceptional football at times, but ultimately the Chileans time at the Bernabeu will be judged by two disastrous cup exits at the hands of Alcorcón and Lyon and a fruitless bid to unsettle Barcelona as La Liga champions.

He was consistently hindered by a lack of support from the clubs hierarchy and press, with only the fans ever seriously backing their manager. The stage is now set for the Mourinho show to waltz into town in his attempt to be the first ever manager to win league titles in The Premiership, Serie A and La Liga. Just the small matter of around €16million compensation for Inter Milan to sort out first. Small change for Florentino.

They never cease to amaze me, but just take a look at the disgusting show of disrespect from the Real Madrid rag Marca. The Real Madrid news section and no mention of Pellegrini. It's as if he never existed. A bad nightmare.

Manuel Pellegrinis days are numbered say/invent Marca

In time old fashion, Marca have jumped on board of the 'Sack Manuel Pellegrini' bandwagon. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say they have built the bandwagon. Instead of focusing on Cristianos disappearing act, Jorge Valdanos summer flops or even their own perpetual arrogance, Marca have rounded on poor old Manuel Pellegrini. Handcuffed by the clubs directors, let down by his egocentrical stars and regularly derided in the press, the man who got little Villarreal to within a whisker of the Champions League final, never stood a chance of succeeding at the Bernabeu. The Chilean is being made a scapegoat for the failings of others, and I hope for his sake that this does end up being his first and only season at Real Madrid. Either that or Florentino and Valdano waltz off into the Spanish sunset and 'The Engineer' is allowed to get on with his job.

So, the seven sins that Marca quote as being Pellegrinis nails in the coffin. 1. The 'Alcorconazo'. Well we all know whose fault that was. His players let him down so badly that night. 2. Unable to control the changing room. You mean the same manager who plucked the main man Riquelme out of the Villarreal side for unsettling the team? How can he control a changing room when it is controlled by Florentino and Jorge Valdano? Would they ever let him drop Cristiano? 3. He ignores the youth team. Perhaps the only point I will agree with. But when you look at what's coming through the ranks right now, you'll see why. 4. Hasn't got the best out of his stars. Kaká has been on a downward slope since 2007. Cristiano is so wrapped up in his personal battle with Messi, a battle he is only ever going to lose, that he will never fully contribute to a team effort, regardless of who is in charge. Karim Benzema has just been plain awful or injured. 5. No-one knows what they're doing on the pitch. So why are Real Madrid currently enjoying their best Liga season ever and on course to beat the 107 goal mark set 20 years ago? It's not his fault they have come across one of the best sides in the history of the game. 6. The 'Lyonazo'. Again, severely let down by his team who went missing when the going got tough. 7. Not a big match manager. Utter rubbish. More like his team, assembled by those above, are not big match players.

So whilst there is no official word from the club, who have Marca gone on and proposed as possible replacements? Well, unbelievably they have the cheek to include Fabio Capello. The same man they forced out of Madrid after winning the league. His 'ugly and defensive football' wasn't deemed attractive enough at the time. How can they stoop so low? The rest of their 'winners' include Filipe Scolari who was unceremoniously dumped out of Chelsea after a disastrous few months in charge, Carlos Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez, whose stock is in rapid decline after a disastrous season at Liverpool. With the exception of Mourinho, who surely wouldn't take this poisoned chalice of a job in a million years, I can't see one of that lot doing any better. Who could, when his job is already done for him by a flashy businessman and his sneeky sidekick? When any slight hiccup will be pounced upon by the unforgiving and ruthless Madrid press? When his selfish and big-headed stars care more about modelling underpants, attending dinner parties and predicting future victories than winning on the pitch? The Madrid fans and Manuel Pellegrini deserve so much better.

El Clasico: Barcelona and Messi show who's boss (Full Highlights)

Real Madrid 0 - 2 Barcelona
(0-1) 32' Messi, (0-2) 55' Pedro

Barcelona dealt a decisive blow in the title race, with a dominant display in the Bernabeu after Saturdays Clasico yielded a deserved 2-0 victory for 'Los Cules'. A match that was relatively lacking in quality but fraught with tension, two moments of sheer class from Xavi Hernandez set Messi and Pedro free, with both finishing emphatically past Iker Casillas. Cristiano Ronaldo produced a performance that was eerily similar to his showing for Manchester United in the 2009 Champions League final against Barca. The first ten minutes he looked lively and dangerous, but when Xavi and Barca grabbed hold of the ball and refused to let it go, the Portuguese star faded dramatically. He is so intent on proving to the rest of the watching world that he is better than Leo Messi, that he forgets that football is essentially a team sport. His hissy fits and bouts of petulance do nothing for his manager or team.

It wasn't by any means a classic Barca performance, but it didn't need to be. Real Madrid were clueless in midfield and shaky at the back. Gonzalo Higuain did nothing to prove his doubters wrong, and Manuel Pellegrini only managed to draw more unnecessary criticism with substitutes that were more designed to please the upper echalons of Real Madrid than help the team itself. What Madrid lacked, Barca offered in abundance. Gerard Pique and Puyol were majestic in defence. Xavi and Busquets devine in midfield. And when the chances came their way, Messi and Pedro dispatched them clinically. Quite why Real Madrid started with Fernando Gago instead of Lass is a mystery. Gago was never going to contain Xavi, and this one tactical lapse proved crucial. Yet more than concentrate on tactical errors, the team, and more importantly Manuel Pellegrini, are handicapped by what happens behind the scenes. Real Madrid and all that surrounds the club needs to take a long hard look at itself. Headlines filled with arrogant statements of how they are going to win 3-0, or how Cristiano is going to prove he is better than Messi, need to stop. The club and press need to get off the managers back, and let him get on with his job. If Pellegrini doesnt survive the chop this summer, they need to give complete autonomy to whoever comes in. Florentino Perez and Jorge Valdano cannot be allowed to solely decide who is purchased. The writing was on the wall for Pellegrini before he even started. And with Marca on a mission to get rid of the Chilean, his future is bleak on the Bernabeu bench.

In the meantime what is evident is that Real Madrid are not in the same league as Barca. They may well be able to keep up with the Catalans whilst both are trawling their way across Spain against inferior opposition, but when they come face to face, there is only one winner right now. And as we enter the home straight in La Liga 2009/2010 there also only appears to be one winner. Pep Guardiola and his players have produced some spectacular football this year, led by the irrepresible Lionel Messi. Humble, honest, hard-working and truly world class sum up Messi and Barca. Qualities severely lacking at the Bernabeu.

Malaga 1 - 2 Sevilla

(1-0) 16' Caicedo, (1-1) 65' Cala, (1-2) 84' Lolo

Xerez 0 - 1 Getafe

(0-1) 60' Rafa

Villarreal 1 - 0 Sporting Gijon

(1-0) 16' Godin

Tenerife 0 - 0 Real Valladolid

Real Madrid out of the Champions League

It wasn't supposed to end like this. Florentino Perez didn't splash out €300 million to see Real Madrid crash out to Lyon. This years final will be held in the Santiago Bernabeu, but sadly for the white half of the capital, Real Madrid won't be there. More than their inability to convert just the one chance tonight, Real Madrid will surely look back to the first leg in Lyon as the moment when their Champions League dream began to fall apart. That failure to score an away goal in France really set the tone for tonights clash, and although they got an early goal from Cristiano Ronaldo and pretty much dominated the opening 45 minutes, they  visibly grew more and more nervous in the second half, terrified that Lyon would deliver the knockout blow.

And it came just when Real Madrid dreaded it most, with only 15 minutes remaining. Far too little time for them to mount an incredible comeback, much like the one witnessed only days before in the same arena. In fairness we could be talking about a different result had Gonzalo Higuain not gone all Ronny Rosenthal on us, as he shot against the woodwork when scoring seemed easier early in the first half. But it wasnt to be, and as Madrid gradually retreated into their shells, Lyon grew in strength. After being outplayed in the first half, Lyon coach Claude Puel made a couple of important switches at half-time, sending on Kim Kallstrom and switching Jeremy Toulalan to centre-half, and the changes worked wonders. You could sense the tension building among the Madrid fans long before Lyon struck gold, they knew what was coming. Miralem Pjanic got the goal; a bullet of a shot from a Lisandro Lopez lay-off which gave Iker Casillas no chance, and from then on Lyon could easily have had two more, as Lisandro and Delgado squandered easy opportunities to put Madrid fully to the sword. For the sixth straight year, Real Madrid fall at the first knockout hurdle.

Questions to come out of this disaster. What will the repercussions be for Señor Pelligrini? He'll be fearing the worst for sure, but they would be foolish to give him the boot so early in his reign, regardless of his strange substitutions tonight. What Real Madrid need right now is stability. Is Kaká worth €68 million? Not a chance, not on this evidence. Is Cristiano worth €86 million. Probably, but he can´t do it alone. Was Pelligrini wrong not to start Van der Vaart? We'll never know, but it wouldn't have done any harm, especially when you consider Esteban Graneros contribution tonight. Does spending silly amounts of money place unnecessary pressure on your manager and players? You have to say the expectation overwhelmed the Madrid team tonight. That second half performance was full of caution, when they really should have thrown off the shackles of doubt. They talked the talk before the match, but they couldn't transfer that onto the pitch. Expect a rocky few days in the Bernabeu as the postmortem commences.

Xerez v Real Madrid: David v Goliath

Tonight Chapin will see security the like of which it has never seen before. Local derbies against Cadiz will have provoked increased police presence in the past, but the visit of Cristiano Ronaldo and company will surpass even the strictest measures seen at Xerez, as they host Real Madrid for the first time in their history. But whilst there is unlikely to be any problems in that regard, Real Madrid are seriously concerned about the state of the Chapin pitch. As you can see from the photo, it's seen better days, and is certainly no pitch for first division football. But they should count themselves lucky, they only have to play on it once. Xerez have to play on it every other week. But to say thats the main reason for their demise this season would be churlish. Goals, or a lack of, is the reason they are where they are. Gonzalo Higuaín has scored the same amount of goals this year than the whole of the Xerez squad. Although with 4 goals in their last two matches, there is reason for optimism within the blue army ranks.

Tonight sees the return of Cristiano Ronaldo who has been suspended for the last two league matches. Madrid achieved six points out of six in that time with convincing wins against Depor and Getafe, but even so all eyes will be, and have been, on CR9 after a turbulent couple of weeks following his run in with Mtiligas face. But his return is soured by an injury crisis that has robbed the Madrileños of several players. Real Madrid come to town minus Karim Benzema, Guti, Pepe, Rafeal Van der Vaart and Gago. Still, with a midfield diamond of Kaká, Xabi Alonso, Granero and Lass topped off with Higuain and Ronaldo up top, they are a match for any side in world football, let alone little Xerez.

So can Xerez do the unthinkable and beat Real Madrid? To be fair to my adopted team, even a draw would be a spectacular result. It says it all when you think that last summer, as Real Madrid were chasing the biggest names in football, Xerez were looking to contract a gardener. Looking at the state of the grass, they didnt break the bank with that signing. The pace and trickery of Momo and Carlos Calvo will be vital, as they look to exploit Marcelos positional frailty and Arbeloas lack of speed. My new hero Sidi Keita will need to be at his hustling best, throwing himself into tackles as his life depended on it as he attempts to stem the creativity of Alonso and Kaka. Mario Bermejo simply cannot let a chance go begging and the defensive line cannot go to sleep as they have so many times this season. The pitch will play a huge role, as it almost converts the game into a cup tie, and we all know what happened to Real Madrid when they made that fateful journey down the A5 to Alcorcón in October. The upper realms of the club have let us down again, charging a ridiculous €55 for entry to season-ticket holders, but one things for sure, the players will do us proud. Let the battle commence.

Madrid in real trouble

After confirmation that both Gonzalez Higuaín and Karim Benzema would miss the next league fixture at Sporting Gijon on saturday, it´s beginning to look a little desparate for Real Madrid.

Cristiano Ronaldo´s ankle injury and Ruud Van Nistlerooy´s ongoing nightmare leaves Raúl as the only recognised striker.  Lassana Diarra has been by far Madrid´s most consistent performer so far this season, breaking up play, launching attacks.....striving to emulate Madrid´s former galic warrior Claude Makelele. But even ´Lass´ misses out after having to travel to France for personal reasons.

With Sporting having enjoyed a solid start to the season and Madrid´s morale shot to pieces by Alexandre Pato´s right boot on wednesday, I wouldnt bet against a shock result at El Molinón Stadium.

Weekend Fixtures:    *  Saturday Fixture

Atlético - Mallorca *
Sporting - R. Madrid *
Sevilla - Espanyol *
Tenerife - Xerez
Villarreal - Málaga
Valladolid - Deportivo
Getafe - Athletic
Racing - Osasuna
Almería - Valencia
Barcelona - Zaragoza