Pellegrini backed after Real exit

REAL MADRID director general Jorge Valdano gave coach Manuel Pellegrini a vote of confidence in the wake of last night's Champions League exit to Lyon.

Real could not build on Cristiano Ronaldo's early strike and Miralem Pjanic's 75th-minute equaliser earned the French side a 2-1 aggregate win and a place in the quarter-finals. Madrid have now fallen at the last 16 stage of the Champions League for six successive years and, with this season's final being played at their Bernabeu home, this exit will be particularly painful.

Valdano said of Pellegrini: "We believe in his work. He has a contract for next season and the plan is that he will continue being our coach.

"The season hasn't finished and there are still things to fight for."