Real Madrid general manager Jorge Valdano insists Manuel Pellegrini's job is safe, despite their Champions League elimination.

Pellegrini is under huge pressure after their failure against Olympique Lyon.

"We will respect him because we believe in his work, although we know that the coach of Madrid is always accompanied by controversy," Valdano said of Pellegrini.

"He has a contract for next season and the plan is that he will continue being our coach.

"The season hasn't finished and there are still things to fight for."

Valdano added: "I've suffered like all Madrid fans. We had high hopes but we couldn't overcome an opponent who made the game very hard for us and who overcame the difficult situation they faced in the first half.

"In the second half there was tiredness, although we wanted to win. This mixture of tiredness and our own ambition made us lose the game and the tie."