Real Madrid refuse to be distracted by Barcelona in title race
Tuesday, February 9, 2010 @ 2:20 PM
• Real beat Espanyol 3-0 to stay five points behind
• 'We're not focussed on what Barça are doing' says Real coach
The Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini has again insisted his side are focused only on themselves and not on what is happening at Barcelona.
In what is already looking like another two-horse race for the Primera Division, the reigning champions Barça retained their five-point lead over second-placed Madrid after both clubs won last night.
Barça, taking advantage of kicking off before Madrid for the third successive week, moved eight points clear with a 2-1 win over Getafe earlier in the evening, but Pellegrini's men responded with a 3-0 defeat of Espanyol.
Knowing Barça have already been victorious before Madrid begin their match could have been a distraction for Real, but Pellegrini claims his team are only concerned with their own efforts.
"There are 17 games left in the league and we're not focused on what Barcelona are doing," said Pellegrini, whose side are eight points clear of third-placed Valencia.
"We will see what happens, you cannot predict the future. The important thing is what we do and above all that we are focused on ourselves."
Although he had five senior players back from injury for the visit of Espanyol, Pellegrini kept faith the same starting XI that last week achieved the club's first win away at Deportivo La Coruña for almost two decades.
And the Chilean was rewarded as Madrid comfortably won for the 11th successive time at home in La Liga this season.
Sergio Ramos opened the scoring early on and Kaká doubled the lead after half an hour. Striker Gonzalo Higuaín, appearing as a second-half substitute on his comeback from injury, then added a sublime third late on to take his tally for the season to 12.
Pellegrini added: "We've won 11 matches at home, and in that respect we're happy. We had a great first half in which we had several chances and (Espanyol goalkeeper Carlos) Kameni made three or four saves. In the second half maybe we were less mobile but we also had a couple of clear chances and scored another."
Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino believes Madrid were full value for their win, although he felt the 3-0 scoreline flattered their hosts. "I think a fairer result would've been 2-1," he said.
"We've played against Real Madrid, one of the best teams in the world. We've done some positive things in the second half and for that I'm pleased. We could have done something more in the second half but Madrid are deserving winners. Conceding the first goal so early allowed Madrid to become much more comfortable."
Source: The Guardian