Manuel Pellegrini has hit out at Malaga saying that it cannot have an ambition for a top four finish and continue to sell its players.
Amid financial uncertainty since last year, a number of first team stars have left La Rosaleda in the last two transfer windows, the last of which was Nacho Monreal on the final day of the January market.
In trying to assess Malaga’s drop down the table in recent weeks, compounded by a 6-2 defeat to Real Madrid this midweek, Pellegrini indicated that club policy was to blame.
“Champions League qualification has to be an aim and this club did not have the ability to try and compete for it from the time that Monreal was sold,” Pellegrini lamented post-match.
“We are in a very difficult year in many ways, we want to get as high as possible, but when a team sells its players, its sporting aspirations cannot be to be among the best four teams in Spain.
“The next year is already a question that has been drawn out longer than necessary and what happens nobody knows.”
Pellegrini also saved some frustration for Wednesday evening’s match officials.
“When a team with just nine men is playing against Real Madrid, the result isn’t at all surprising. It wasn’t a proper match, as the two teams were not being treated on equal terms.
“We equalised quickly, but then the entire balance of the game was thrown out.
“Furthermore, Demichelis was sent off for not touching Cristiano Ronaldo. Sometimes a team wants to play and cannot.”
