LONDON - British director Guy Ritchie has revealed he has struggled to cope with his divorce from pop diva Madonna, and admits he still loves her.

The director has revealed he has deep feelings for his ex-wife who he split from last year after almost eight years of marriage and admits he has found the separation extremely difficult, reports people.com.

“I still love her. Of course, but she’s retarded, too… You can’t tell someone when they’re getting divorced that their pain is an illusion… I feel it. I’ve been through that… No one can say you don’t feel that,” he said.

The 41-year-old who raises three children with Madonna also hugely admires the 51-year-old singer’s work ethic.

“She’s a manifester, if there ever was one. First-rate manifester. Madonna makes things happen. Put Madonna up against any 23-year-old, she’ll outwork them, outdance them and outperform them,” he said.

Ritchie also insisted he never thought of her as a superstar when they were together, because to him she was just a beloved.

“… It didn’t matter who she was. She was my wife,” he said.