Scolari: Pellegrini deserves more time

Former Brazil and Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari believes under-pressure Real Madrid boss Manuel Pellegrini needs to be given time to show what he can do at the helm of the Spanish giants.

Pellegrini has only been in the post since the summer after five successful seasons at Villarreal, but the Chilean is feeling the heat following a recent loss of form that included seeing Madrid dumped out of the Copa del Rey 4-1 on aggregate by third-tier neighbours Alcorcon.

Scolari, who is now in charge of Uzbekistan side Bunyodkor after leaving Chelsea earlier this year, is one of the names being tipped as a possible successor to Pellegrini in the Spanish media, but the Brazilian feels the current incumbent deserves more time.

Asked if he would say yes to Madrid, Scolari told Spanish newspaper AS: “I’d say to Madrid that they should give Pellegrini the conditions to show what he has already done at Villarreal. If Madrid want to win the league and be a great team they must follow the initial plan.

“You cannot keep changing the coach every four or five months for losing a game,” said Scolari, who would become Madrid’s 11th coach since 2003 if he were to replace Pellegrini.