Manuel Pellegrini really doesn’t deserve this.
Man City’s manager is the very personification of quiet endeavour and good-mannered grace. Unlike many of his peers, he is not one to entertain vanity or needless self-promotion. Nor does he tend to get embroiled in the usual ‘mind games’ with his direct rivals.
Since taking over at the Eastlands in June 2013, the Chilean has been an oasis of dignified calm at the centre of the whirlwind that is the Man City ‘project’. He managed to secure both the Premier League title and the League Cup in his first season, whilst finishing second last term.
His City side currently sits just two points off the top of the table in third position, and has already qualified for the knock-out stages of the Champions League. Yet still, in spite of all this, speculation grows that he will be replaced come the season’s end.
Reports in both Germany and England claim that Pep Guardiola has finally succumbed to eager advances from City suits Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano, and agreed to join the club in 2016 as the best paid manager in the world.
Poor Pellegrini had to face very blunt and direct questioning about his future ahead of City’s game with Southampton, and in particular the prospect of Pep taking his place. When confronted with the G word, his usually genial features dropped into a disappointed frown.
In fairness to him, Pellegrini didn’t rise to the bait, and instead straight-batted the query in the same he responded to fanciful rumours that Lionel Messi may swap Barcelona for Manchester come next summer.
But it was clear that he was wasn’t impressed with talk of his potential dismissal ahead of the immediate challenge of facing a very talented Southampton side. The Chilean must be wondering what he can do to bring an end to such disrespectful treatment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9waDXY6fEA
