Manuel Pellegrini enthused at the organisation and team spirit he saw in Malaga to secure their 3-2 win at Mallorca on Sunday.
The Costa del Sol outfit reclaimed fourth spot in the table with this close-fought victory at Iberostar Stadium, during which the last 20 minutes had Malaga reduced to 10 men.
“We are in the Champions League places after a physical and emotional drain the Copa del Rey, after fighting on equal terms with Barcelona, and that is always important,” concluded Pellegrini at full-time.
“We played a very good first half before their goal, we were very good, we scored two good goals and had the opportunity to settle the match at 3-0, but we made things complicated.
“Mallorca widened, gained confidence and the second half saw a decisive action with the free-kick goal in the corner but then, after the red card for Demichelis, we maintained order and team spirit to get the three points.
“Mallorca? Starting two goals down is always difficult for the home side, they are an opponent that we know, who are passing, unfortunately, through a difficult patch, but they are a tidy team, who knows how to play perfectly well.
“I am certain they will leave this difficult moment that they are going through.”
