“We will have to close the Premier League season on Tuesday”.
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Outgoing Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has admitted the club’s decision to announce Pep Guardiola as his successor in February had a negative impact on his side’s season, according to Goal.
Pellegrini yesterday ended his three-year spell at City with a 1-1 draw that secures fourth place and a spot in August’s two-legged Champions League play-off round.
Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Sunday, May 15, 2016.
“So I think he will receive a club he deserves, and I am sure that this club will continue improving in the future”.
Manchester City are a top-four team.
They have been given a second chance, and it is one that City will not want to pass up in their attempts to give the popular Pellegrini the flawless send-off. In between those fixtures, City held Real Madrid at the Etihad in a Champions League semi-final first leg before losing at the Bernabeu.
As if precedent did not make it unlikely enough, Louis van Gaal’s men have scored just 46 league goals this season – which was the same amount as 17th-placed Sunderland afte 37 games.
Sections of City’s fan base have criticized Pellegrini for not blooding other young prospects within an aging squad this season, while Guardiola’s decorated spell in charge of Barcelona won him a reputation as one of the premier developers of youth talent in football. Heading into the summer, Pep Guardiola will now have to decide who will stay and who will go from the club as he takes over at manager. It is not easy to finish a cycle at this club where I work for three years very happy and where I always felt the support of the fans.
“I think he exhibited how imperative he [Iheanacho] is”, Pellegrini told a post-match news meeting.
“When I came in January it was hard, but I’m happy with where we have finished”. Despite resting several key players, they were sharp from start to finish and it was important that a couple of key players showed glimpses of their better form as Ki Sung-Yueng and Bafetimbi Gomis both found the net.
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“Punters can use a free bet to back United to end the season with a win ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup Final against Crystal Palace at Wembley”.
