Why do we use present perf. cont. in this sentence? Hello everybody, :) I was just reading an article on goal.com and I was wondering about the following sentence. "The coach says the two do not keep in touch, despite having worked together for three years at Real Madrid." Context: The coach (J.Mourinho) is not working for Real Madrid anymore but the player (C. Ronaldo) still is. Why do we use "having worked" in this sentence"? I mean this is present perfect continuous but there is no connection to the present. The coach worked for Real Madrid two years ago. Or do we use having in this sentence because there is the word despite before have and so we have to put the -ing at the end of the word have? Thank you very much! Rene