It has today been confirmed by Manchester City that Manuel Pellegrini is to end his tenure as manager at the end of this season and that he will be replaced by Pep Guardiola.
In a statement from the club, Manchester City have gone on record as saying: “Out of respect for Manuel Pellegrini and the players, the club wishes to make its decision public to remove the unnecessary burden of speculation” and claim that “Pellegrini is fully supportive of the decision…and is entirely focused on achieving his targets for the season ahead.”
Guardiola will join City on a three-year contract, ending months of speculation as to where he would work after announcing earlier in the season that he would be leaving Bayern Munich to manage a team in England next year. Manchester City had always been favourites due to his connections within the club, but Chelsea and Manchester United will surely feel that they have missed out.
In his time at Manchester City, Manuel Pellegrini has seen his team win the Premier League and the League Cup, two competitions that his side may still win this season. Although official word is that he is supportive of the decision it must be frustrating for the Chilean who could still end the year winning four trophies.
Guardiola comes to Manchester City with an incredible reputation, and is a name that will excite the fans not only at the Etihad but across England. A winner at both Barcelona and Bayern Munich, the hopes will be high for him to carry that success on to England with his main aim surely to bring Champions League success to the club, as well as his exciting and expansive style of football that has so well defined Barcelona as possibly the greatest football team of this generation.
