What awaited Pellegrini at the post-match press conference at the Bernabéu Stadium was a trial of public opinion that was brewing.
The Madrid media and the Spanish media could not wait to tear Pellegrini to shreds!
In the words of the reporters' private discussion, Pellegrini watched Real Madrid get slaughtered by the Red Army!
When Pellegrini appeared at the press conference, the reporters below the stage raised their hands to ask questions.
A reporter from Marca asked bluntly, "How did Real Madrid prepare for this game? Did you completely treat yourself as a spectator in the game? You did nothing to watch Real Madrid get beaten by Liverpool into a weak team. Is this what you should do as a manager? "
Pellegrini's words were feeble as he defended himself, "In the early part of the game, we lost a goal. After two goals, we could only step up our offense in order to reverse the opponent. Liverpool played very smart today. They put on a defensive counterattack formation. With the strength of the Liverpool team, if they play defensive counterattack, it will cause trouble for any team in the world. I feel disappointed that we lost the game by a large score and the team was eliminated. The players' mood fell to the bottom. Everyone seems to have suffered a huge trauma. I have a lot of responsibility and I will not run away from it. But we still have to look forward. We can't be immersed in this major loss. That will not help Real Madrid's future. "
The reporters did not buy it. The attack from the team newspaper, AS, was even fiercer.
"Before the game, you vowed that Real Madrid was ready and had the confidence to make a comeback at home. But in the game, we could not see Real Madrid's careful preparation. There was not even a minute in the game under Real Madrid's control. Where are your achievements? Did Real Madrid think that just because the game venue changed from Anfield to Bernabéu, Real Madrid's fighting power would increase imperceptibly and Liverpool's fighting power would decrease a lot? "
Pellegrini reluctantly admitted the reality.
"I have to say that Liverpool's performance was better. The tactics used by Liverpool, the overall performance of the team, including the players' mentality, were better than Real Madrid, so they won. As for Real Madrid's failure to control the game, I think the bigger reason was that we were under too much pressure."
"You might as well say when you'll resign!"
A Spanish reporter said in an impatient tone the words that everyone was suppressing in their hearts.
Real Madrid needed someone to bear the responsibility of being eliminated from the Champions League with a score of 3: 10. There was no doubt that the manager, Pellegrini would bear the brunt.
The press conference turned into the media's collective bombardment of Pellegrini and "accountability." Pellegrini was not good at dealing with such a situation. He also did not expect that after the game against the Red Army, he would end up in a situation where he was "deserted by his friends."
He had just returned to the locker room to appease the Real Madrid players, but no players were willing to talk to him. He was keenly aware that even the players began to distrust him. They probably felt that he was not capable of controlling the team's locker room, and at the same time, he was unable to lead Real Madrid to glory. Especially in tough battles and in the face of key battles, Real Madrid found it difficult to show a convincing performance. This was naturally directly linked to the manager's ability.
.....
Comain attended the post-match press conference with a glowing face.
Fleet Street was waiting for the arrival of the Dutch manager. After Comain sat down, The Times reporter, Howard, asked, "Liverpool defeated Real Madrid in two rounds of 10: 3. At the Bernabéu, Liverpool's performance was even better than at Anfield. What was the secret to Liverpool's victory?"
Comain said calmly with pride, "Unity! Liverpool showed the unity of 11 players as a whole! I don't agree with you. We also performed very well at Anfield. It's difficult to not let Real Madrid score against an opponent of their level. I can only say that Real Madrid's performance today slipped a lot compared to the last game because they looked like a plate of loose sand. They did show the determination and will to make a comeback, but their execution was not necessarily better than the last game. "
"What's the reason? This is Bernabéu, after all. Why did Real Madrid's performance decline? "
Comain shrugged and said, "We have always known that Real Madrid is a team ravaged by pressure. Maybe the team was too brilliant in the past, or maybe the team invested a lot, but they have the most luxurious lineup in the world. People's expectations of Real Madrid have always been champions, champions, champions. If Real Madrid does not win the title, it will be a failure. This is an important source of pressure for Real Madrid. Because of this, at the Bernabéu, they are under even more pressure. This kind of pressure will make them more anxious and flustered, especially after we scored. Real Madrid's performance is getting worse and worse."
The Daily Telegraph reporter, Thomas, asked, "Today, Liverpool played an asymmetrical 4-4-2 formation. Before the game, it looked like the offense was weakened, but the offensive effect became better. What kind of thinking was behind the design of this formation?"
Comain was quite proud of this and smiled, "We established a 5: 3 lead in the first leg. When we come to the Bernabéu, Real Madrid will be more aggressive. So, we first have to stabilize the defense, so today I used the formation of two defensive midfielders, Lucas and Mascherano. At the same time, I felt that it was enough to only need Qin Xiong and Torres in the offense, because Real Madrid's defense is bound to have flaws under the huge investment in the offense. We will not be short of opportunities. It turned out that my idea was right. I want to thank the players. They seized the opportunity again and again to give Real Madrid a painful blow."
"Let's comment on Qin Xiong's performance."
"I have nothing to say. The most wonderful praise in the world has been given to him. He is the world's strongest, the world's best player. Thank God, he is a member of Liverpool. He played another wonderful game. I can only say that now is the best time for the fans. They can appreciate Qin Xiong's performance on the field, which is the happiest thing. And for Liverpool, we are also happy."
It was not just Comain. Many Liverpool players who were interviewed after the game were full of praise for Qin Xiong. They publicly advocated that Qin Xiong was the world's best player.
Comain became low-key again when looking forward to the Champions League quarterfinals.
"There are no weak teams in the top eight. We won't pick our opponents. What we have to do is to adjust our mentality, take each match seriously, and strive for victory. Then, let's see what happens."
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