Guti left out of Madrid team after Pellegrini spat

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini left Jose Maria "Guti" Gutierrez off of the team for Saturday's Spanish league match against Getafe only days after two exchanged heated words.

Guti and Pellegrini argued at halftime of Madrid's 4-0 loss to third-tier Alcorcon in the first leg of the fourth round of the Copa del Rey and did not reappear for the second half.

Pellegrini says he has a "good" relationship with Guti and that he didn't have any problem with him.

Guti said Friday that he had "connected" with Pellegrini better than most coaches and denied reports he had directed profanities at the Chilean, who is under pressure following a poor run of results.