Pellegrini only took charge of Madrid this summer and led the team to seven successive wins in the league and Champions League at the start of the season, but the Spanish giants then suffered a loss of form that saw them lose three times in five games, including last Tuesday's humiliating 4-0 cup defeat to minnows Alcorcon.

Reports in sections of the media following that loss speculated that Pellegrini's future would be dependent on the results of Madrid's next two games, against Getafe yesterday and AC Milan in the Champions League this coming week, and at the same time the likes of Michael Laudrup, Roberto Mancini, Luis Aragones and Victor Fernandez were being lined up as possible replacements.

However, speaking a day after Madrid overcame the 27th-minute dismissal of defender Raul Albiol to beat local rivals Getafe 2-0 at the Bernabeu, Perez insisted that talk of Pellegrini's job being under threat was wide of the mark.

"There have appeared the names of great coaches in the papers, but we are happy with Pellegrini and we are sure that he will finish the season positively," said Perez, who during the latter part of his previous reign as president of Madrid, which lasted from 2000-06, employed six different coaches in just three years.

"Real Madrid respect the press and everything that they say, but it is the club who decide and we are happy how we are.

"There needs to be patience. Real Madrid will have a wonderful season," Perez was quoted as saying in a phone interview on Rai Due programme 'Quelli che il calcio e..' on Italian television.

Madrid's win over Getafe was their seventh triumph in nine league games this season and saw them move to within a point of leaders Barcelona, who were held 1-1 by Osasuna last night.

Now Madrid turn their focus to the continent, where they will continue their quest for a record 10th European Cup crown with an away clash against Milan on Tuesday night.

Pellegrini's side travel to the San Siro looking to gain revenge for their 3-2 defeat by Milan in the previous encounter between the two at the Bernabeu a fortnight ago.

That result has left the two European giants level on six points at the top of Group C, with Marseille and FC Zurich back on three points.

Madrid defender Pepe believes their battling victory over Getafe was just the boost they needed ahead of their trip to Italy following the embarrassing defeat to Alcorcon, saying: "We were affected, but yesterday we showed great spirit and we want to continue like that.

"We have a very difficult game against Milan, but we know that with this attitude we can win it.

"We have to be focused and play our game. It's crucial to be first in the group. We know that we have a lot of work ahead of us, but we have to show that we are a real team."

Pellegrini has named a 20-man squad for the game, adding Royston Drenthe and Adan to the group that faced Getafe. Cristiano Ronaldo and Ezequiel Garay are again missing through injury while Guti and Christoph Metzelder have been omitted.