Pellegrini: Mourinho now 'much more mature' than before

Manuel Pellegrini says he sees a more mature Jose Mourinho ahead of Real Betis' meeting with Real Madrid at Estadio de La Cartuja on Friday.

The two coaches have a long history, dating back to Mourinho's first spell at the Bernabeu and comments made at the time about Pellegrini's tenure there and his subsequent move to Malaga. Asked about that history, Pellegrini played it down.

"I have had many encounters with Jose on the pitch," Pellegrini said. "For me, the statements are not important."

He went further when asked to assess Mourinho as a coach now, in his second spell at Real Madrid.

"I have a good opinion of him as a coach," Pellegrini said. "I see him as much more mature than perhaps a few years ago."

Real Madrid arrive on the back of three straight league wins to open the season, reinforced by a busy summer in the transfer market. "Real Madrid is a team that has strengthened itself with many players. It has players who can unbalance a game. We have to play a very complete match if we want to take points," he said.

He also addressed the closed transfer window, saying he had asked for two additions, including another holding midfielder who did not arrive. "I already gave my opinion and I am not changing it in three or four days," he said. Pressed on how he will manage having both Facundo Bernal and Marc Roca as options in that deeper midfield role, Pellegrini said he tries different alternatives in training during the week and will assess whether the two can play together depending on fitness and form.