Pellegrini’s last stand with Manchester City
By Sean Maslin
Everyone loves leaving a lame duck job on top. For some taking a few pens and pencils and maybe a couple of coffee mugs would suffice, for others getting the chance to show one’s soon-to-be former employers what they are losing is a kick. Perhaps Manuel Pellegrini might not end up with a Manchester City coffee mug when he leaves the job in May. But he could end up with something far more valuable: the UEFA Champions League trophy.
Despite the ghost of Guardiola hanging over him, Pellegrini somehow some way has managed to bring his squad to within two matches of the UEFA Champions League final. Despite forward Sergio Aguero missing an early penalty kick, midfielder Kevin De Bruyne came through late to give City the series over Paris St. Germain.
It has been a rather up and down season for City which tends to happen when the incumbent manager knows that their services will not be retained. The 2013-2014 English Premier League champions have assured themselves of at least a Europa League spot for their 2016-2017 campaign with six games remaining. Yet their chances of reclaiming England’s top prize are relatively low; the club currently finds themselves fifteen points adrift of leaders Leicester City.
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Perhaps this speaks to the paradoxical nature of how English football works but it all seems a bit odd that City’s accomplishment in the Champions League is almost lessened by their issues in league play. While the club has shaken off previous Champions League failures by beating the likes of the aforementioned PSG, Sevilla, Borussia Monchengladbach, and Dynamo Kiev, consecutive losses at home to Leicester and Tottenham snuffed at any chances of winning a treble (City also won this year’s League Cup).
The run in the Champions League seems to have mollified any rancor from the supporter base towards Pellegrini and the club. The situation could have certainly gotten out of control early City once again bottomed out of Europe and found themselves with only the League Cup as their lone prize for the 2015-2016 campaign. Yet with their run in the CL and a simple statement from Pellegrini and the club any major discontent seems to have washed away.
The good news for Pellegrini and City supporters is that unlike many clubs at this time of the year they still have something to play for. Both the team and the manager certainly have something to play for as well aside from a giant silver trophy and a very nice fat bonus.
For the players it is the chance to prove to Guardiola that they are more than capable of playing his squad in 2016-2017. City Football Group may not be holding a fire sale this July but it is fair to say that many players will not be back. Given the disparity in styles between Guardiola and Pellegrini (Guardiola tends to play with more of a focus with the center midfielders, while Pellegrini likes to use his left and right midfielders to start the attack) City will look like a very different squad when they suit up in August. For players wanting to play with a coach of Guardiola’s caliber this may be their best chance to show it.
For Pellegrini, it is the chance to show that he is not just a one trick pony. Although his ability as a strategist and tactician are widely admired, his cupboard in terms of trophies is fairly bare. Aside from the 2013-2014 EPL trophy with City, his greatest accomplishments as a manager mostly reside within South American football (he won the Argentina Primera Division with San Lorenzo in 2001-2002 and River Plate in 2003-2004).
That might change in the coming weeks. If he can somehow win the Champions League he will make himself much more marketable for prospective coaching opportunities in the future. With possible openings at PSG, Juventus, AC Milan, and that other team in Manchester Pellegrini could find himself a hot commodity come the end of the season.
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The road ahead for City in the Champions League is still incredibly difficult. But if the club can somehow breakthrough it could prove to be a watershed moment not just for the club but also Pellegrini. Everyone always wants to go out on top but few are able to. Come May he might just be one of the lucky ones.