Real Madrid coach denies rift with board

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini has rubbished talk of a rift between himself and members of the Santiago Bernabeu hierarchy.

Reports in Spain had suggested that sporting director Jorge Valadano and club president Florentino Perez had fallen out with Pellegrini, but he has dismissed such rumours.

He told El Mundo: "Critics have never bothered me, because I am very critical of myself, but insults and bad faith do.

"Everyone does their job how they want and everyone reads what they feel is most convenient.

"I have never felt any pressure from the club in order to change things and relations are excellent.

"Last week the press tried to create a conflict between myself]and Jorge Valdano and this week it has been with Florentino Perez.

"Everyone interprets things how they want, but I have a very good relationship with people at the club.