Elated Pellegrini lauds value of good timing

Flush with pride after a "dream come true", newly unveiled Real Madrid CF coach Manuel Pellegrini says there is no better time to arrive at the Santiago Bernabéu.

'Total confidence'
The 55-year-old takes over from Juande Ramos after a deal was reached with Villarreal CF to bring the Chilean to the Spanish capital for the next two seasons. "I've been fortunate to have been chosen by the president here for this project," said Pellegrini, new president Florentino Pérez's first signing for the 2009/10 campaign. "I believe I've arrived at the right time in every sense. I come with five previous years of experience in Spain [at Villarreal] and with total confidence in everyone here. I'm filled with pride to have been chosen to coach a club with such global importance."

Pressure point
Pellegrini's last act in charge at Villarreal was to earn the team a UEFA Europa League play-off berth thanks to a fifth-placed league finish. It ended a successful stint at the club for the former CA River Plate coach who led the Yellow Submarine to a UEFA Champions League semi-final in 2006 and a club-best second place in the Liga in 2008. Now a new challenge awaits. "The big clubs always demand that you win week in, week out and I think that playing good football is the best way to get the right results," said Pellegrini. "There will be ups and downs but I've got the right people with me to be able to overcome the lows; if that weren't the case then I wouldn't be here. Pressure is something that motivates me and I certainly don't shy away from it." Madrid finished second in the Liga in 2008/09, their European ambitions ended by a comprehensive 5-0 aggregate defeat by Liverpool FC in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round.