Pep Guardiola set to replace Pellegrini even if City bag a double
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Manuel Pellegrini might be getting fed up with the speculation regarding his future at the City of Manchester Stadium, but it could be that even a couple of trophies are not enough to save him from the sack.
Pep Guardiola sent the British press into a frenzy on Tuesday afternoon by stating that the reason he is not renewing his contract at Bayern Munich is that he wants to manage in the Premier League.
It seems that everybody is sure about where the Spaniard is heading in the summer, including the bookies, who make Manchester City 2/9 shots to be the former Barca boss’ next port of call.
The foundations are certainly in place for Pep at the Etihad, with some familiar faces already on site.
Director of Football Txiki Begiristain and Chief Executive Officer Ferran Soriano both worked alongside Guardiola at Barcelona, and would certainly welcome the 44-year-old to the north west of England with open arms.
He has stated he “wants a new challenge”, and with his role at mega-rich Bayern Munich, following four years at mega-rich Barcelona, we think City could offer just the type of “challenge” Pep is after.
But what of the man currently in the Etihad hotseat?
Pellegrini guided his side to a league and cup double in 2013-14 before drawing a blank last term, with the pressure now on him to deliver in 2015-16.
It could yet be an unprecedented campaign for the club, with the title still well within their reach, a semi-final spot in the League Cup secured and a place in the knock-out stages in the Champions League under their belts.
That is even before they begin their pursuit of a second FA Cup success in five years.
Nevertheless, the bookies think that even if he can pull out all the stops in the second half of the season, the writing is on the wall for Pellegrini.
Ladbrokes go 6/4 that City win two or more trophies this term, and still see Pep come in over the summer, odds that suggest the incumbent better start clearing his desk now.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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