No Change For Riquelme

Can anyone explain what is going on at Villarreal? The La Liga side won today for only the second time in the last nine outings. Though the club's fortunes took a positive turn today, Juan Roman Riquelme's situation remained the same. The Argentine was left out of the team (even the subs bench) for the sixth match in a row. Coach Manuel Pellegrini has received the support of Villarreal's administrators in the form of a new contract, suggesting that Riquelme's time at the club could be winding down.

At a press conference before today's game against Real Madrid, Pellegrini had this to say when asked about Riquelme:

It's important to be rational about the situation. If the team isn't playing well right now, it isn't because of Roman. We've played badly with him in the side as well. Everyone has the liberty to comment and give their opinions. I know that everyone likes to be able to watch the best players out on the pitch. What people should realize and be conscious of as well, is that neither the president, the coach, nor the players' [Riquelme] teammates are idiots.

Where this leaves the ex-Argentine international with only days left in the transfer window, I don't know.

Villarreal 1-0 Real Madrid [ESPN Soccernet]
"We lost with Riquelme as well" (in Spanish) [La Nacion]