Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini discussed injuries and title talk but then dropped a bombshell: By the way, I’m off !

  • 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 
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 
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 injury before dropping the bombshell   The Man City boss also talked about the emergence of Kelechi Iheanacho                                                     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

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