Real seek to repair damaged pride in King's Cup

By Mark Elkington

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid midfielder Kaka believes the side can make up for their embarrassing 4-0 defeat to Alcorcon in the King's Cup, by staging a dramatic comeback at the Bernabeu in Tuesday's last-32 second leg.

Alcorcon, from Segunda B (the third tier of Spanish football), stunned the nine-times European champions in the first leg two weeks ago, in a result that raised questions over the future of coach Manuel Pellegrini.

However, Real's reaction since then has quelled talk of a crisis and two wins and a draw in all competitions have given them confidence they can see off a side with a budget 400 times smaller than their own.

"For pride and for the history of Real Madrid, we have to win this tie," Brazil's Kaka told the club website (www.realmadrid.com).

"The players and the fans have to stand together. The Bernabeu must be a wave of pressure."

Pellegrini will be unable to draw on the injured Cristiano Ronaldo and suspended Sergio Ramos but Alcorcon coach Juan Antonio Anquela was keeping his feet on the ground.

"We are optimistic but realistic. If Real Madrid perform to their usual standards our chances of progressing are minimal," he told sports daily Marca on Monday.

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