Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini has admitted it is a concern to him that his side have failed in both of their biggest tests so far this season, after losing first to Sevilla and then AC Milan. Los Merengues have won eight of their ten competitive games this term, but went down 2-1 to Los Rojiblancos in La Liga before last night's 3-2 defeat at home to I Rossoneri in the UEFA Champions League.

When asked about this following the Milan loss, Pellegrini said: "Every defeat is worrying. Both teams (Sevilla and Milan) are more settled than we are and they've played together for a lot longer. I don't consider it something normal, it's worrying and we have to continue improving."

Every defeat is worrying. I don't consider it something normal, it's worrying and we have to continue improving.
Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini following defeats by Sevilla and AC Milan

The defeat by Milan came after Real had beaten FC Zurich 5-2 and Marseille 3-0 in their opening two games in Group C, but they surrendered top spot to the Italians following last night's result, with the other two sides now three points behind at the midway point of the group stage.

"We have two objectives: To qualify for the next round of the Champions League - and we will try to recover the points in the return game against Milan - and in the league, where we are on the right path but know that we have to work harder," explained Pellegrini. 

Real had looked on course for their third successive win in Europe when Raul took advantage of a bad mistake from visiting goalkeeper Dida to give the home side a half-time lead, but Milan turned the game on its head after the break when, against the run of play, they scored twice in a four-minute spell through Andrea Pirlo and Alexandre Pato to go 2-1 ahead.

Royston Drenthe brought the hosts back on level terms with 14 minutes to go, when he drove home a low shot from the edge of the box, but it would be Pato who had the final say as he volleyed home at the far post to earn the visitors an 88th-minute winner.

Real have now lost two of their past three games, including the Sevilla match, but Dutchman Drenthe insists there is no reason to press the panic button. "It's not a crisis, we can also lose games," he said.

"We will play in Gijon and then against Milan over there. Why talk of crisis? We are fine in the league and the Champions League. The people don't understand that the Madrid players are people and that we can also lose. This is football, anything can happen."

Leonardo delight
A delighted Leonardo, the Milan coach, said of his side's victory: "I'm very happy and I have a very positive feeling. The second half was much better than the first.

"After Raul's goal it was difficult to reorganise the team and the second half was incredible. We created chances, we went 2-1 ahead, they drew level but we never thought about losing and that was key. The result was fair."