- Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini will make way for Pep Guardiola
- Pellegrini revealed he will be leaving at his press conference on Monday
- The 62-year-old revealed he will finish his contract in the summer
- City travel to Sunderland on Tuesday night in the Premier League
The question was significant, centred on Manchester City’s failure to win consecutive Premier League games since October, but by then Manuel Pellegrini’s mind was elsewhere.
‘We
will see what will happen, but...’ he tailed off, surprisingly
non-committal for a manager who tries to treat every question with the
utmost professionalism. He may not say much in return but a full answer
is normally forthcoming.
At the time it seemed a strange ending to the pre-match press conference for tonight’s trip to Sunderland.
Manuel Pellegrini revealed he will be leaving Manchester City at the end of the season
The City boss will be replaced by current Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola it was confirmed on Monday
City’s
press officer said ‘thank you’ to indicate the briefing had finished,
while the Chilean sat still, ready to drop a bombshell. For the first
time in his two-and-a-half year spell in England, he became the story.
‘Before
I finish, I want to tell you I have talked with the club and I will
finish my contract on the original date,’ Pellegrini told a stunned
auditorium.
‘I signed
for one year more, but with the clause the club or me can choose not to
use that, so I finish here on the original date, June 30, so there is no
speculation.
‘The
club are not doing anything behind me, I knew this one month ago,’ he
added.
‘But I don’t think it’s good to have rumour or speculation, which
is why I have told the players and the press. I also spoke to the club
two weeks ago and said that I would do it.’
Pellegrini became the story for the first time since taking charge at the Etihad ahead of the trip to Sunderland
Pellegrini told his players of the decision and insisted the club had kept him informed of the deal throughout
Everyone
inside the Etihad Campus was informed yesterday morning. It was an open
secret that the 62-year-old would be departing, but he has done this on
his terms.
There
was no indication this news was on its way to the media during the 14
minutes preceding the proclamation. He spoke of a knock picked up by
Fabian Delph, the Premier League title race, Kelechi Iheanacho’s
emergence, including a nod to the millions City have invested in their
inspiring academy. The information that he was departing almost felt
like an afterthought. After all, personality politics do not register
with Pellegrini. He is respectful to opponents and is rarely embroiled
in tittle-tattle.
He
has maintained his dignity throughout and will leave City with their
blessing because Pellegrini’s impact on this club has been immense. For
that, he will enjoy the pick of countless jobs and it is understood
demand is already high.
He
wants to remain in England and there are a few clubs who would benefit
from his expertise and attacking zest, not least one across this city.
Chelsea have been mooted as a potential destination. Pellegrini would
undoubtedly still be City’s manager if their first choice was not
available and he accepts that. Nevertheless, they will be sorry to see
him leave in June and he remains hugely popular inside the dressing room
and out.
The
hope at City is that the poignancy of yesterday’s news serves not only
to lessen the burden on Pellegrini but to galvanise his squad, who still
have eyes on a quadruple. We will hear in the coming weeks that stars
such as David Silva and Sergio Aguero want to win all four for their
manager as much as themselves, such is the reverence in which Pellegrini
is held.
Pellegrini discussed Fabian Delph and the emergence of Kelechi Iheanacho before dropping the bombshell
Pellegrini celebrates winning the Premier League title, Man City's second, with his backroom team in 2014
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for your contribution