Real Madrid Coach Manuel Pellegrini Concerned After Performance Against Zurich

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini has admitted that he is worried about his sides performance level after an unconvincing 1-0 win over FC Zurich in their UEFA Champions League match at the Bernabeu.

Madrid dominated for large periods but were far from their sparkling best against the Swiss, relying on a solitary first half goal from Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain to secure victory.

"We are concerned because it is not the game we want to play. This is not the more technical game I like. But on the other hand, we are very secure defensively. We lack creativity, greater mobility and a bit of luck. We had opportunities and did not put them away," he told a press conference.

"It is very likely that we have excessive anxiety, pressure, criticism and a lack of performance in some aspects. It is a credit that the team is where it is. We did not play badly, but weren't entertaining."

Pellegrini has disputed suggestions that Barcelona are a much better side than his team going into Sunday's top of the table clash at Camp Nou.

"The Barca game is different, they have a very clear concept and we are in search of things that are different to years gone by. I disagree that there is a big difference between Barcelona and Real Madrid," he argued.