Nick Wright assesses Manuel Pellegrinis Manchester City legacy as he prepares to make way for Pep Guardiola.
Minkah Fitzpatrick Womens Jersey ... Manuel Pellegrinis Etihad Stadium farewell rather summed up the mood at Manchester City as they approach the end of his final season in charge. Boos greeted the 2-2 draw with Arsenal as disgruntled fans headed straight for the exits, and when the manager and his players re-emerged from the dressing room, they were met by swathes of empty seats.It was a sad way for the Chilean to say goodbye after three years at the helm, but the exodus was also an understandable reaction to yet another setback in a season in which City have fallen a long way short of expectations. Manuel Pellegrini waved goodbye to City fans on Sunday after his final game at the Etihad Mercifully for City, their Champions League qualification fate is back in their hands after Manchester Uniteds 3-2 defeat to West Ham at Upton Park. They can guarantee a top-four finish by beating Swansea at the Liberty Stadium on the final day, but even a top-four finish will not mask the sense of deflation about how things have panned out.How did it come to this? The Capital One Cup triumph over Liverpool ensures the season has at least yielded silverware, but City could not have imagined the collapse that would follow the announcement of Pep Guardiolas appointment in February. Pellegrinis men were just three points behind leaders Leicester at the time. The gap now stands at 15. Manuel Pellegrini and Yaya Toure pose with the Premier League trophy after Man Citys 2013/14 title triumph Even the first Champions League semi-final in their history felt like an anti-climax. Here was an opportunity for Pellegrinis men to prove they belong on the grandest stage, but their meek surrender at the Bernabeu showed that, for all the investment, they are still no closer to the European elite.Pellegrini inherited a team that could win things, said Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness on Sunday. Then he spent £200m net, now he is leaving and how much further down the road is this team than when he walked in? Are they better? Have they stagnated? Or are they worse? What do the challengers need? Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd, Man City and Tottenham - what do they need to win the title? They are awkward questions for Pellegrini, who looked well positioned to dominate English football after guiding City to the Premier League title in a stellar 2013/14 campaign. The softly-spoken Chilean succeeded in repairing a squad left fractured by his confrontational predecessor Roberto Mancini, with City pipping Liverpool and Chelsea in a thrilling title race and securing the Capital One Cup with a 3-1 win over Sunderland. Manuel Pellegrini will be replaced by current Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola this summer Delivering the first league and cup double in Citys history was an achievement for which their understated manager probably deserved greater credit. It was done in style, too. Pellegrinis men thrilled supporters with devastating attacking football, and a total of 102 goals scored ranked as the second-highest in Premier League history. In all competitions, they struck a record-breaking 156 goals, and thoughts immediately turned to the future after they wrapped up the season with 2-0 win at home to West Ham. Big teams cannot be satisfied with one title, said Pellegrini in his post-match press conference. This club and players deserve more titles. Manuel Pellegrini guided Man City to a second Capital One Cup win this season City and their ambitious owners wanted dominance, but in the end the achievements of 2013/14 have been overshadowed by disappointment. City were joint-top of the Premier League midway through Pellegrinis second year in charge, but their challenge faded in the second half of the season, and there were cup exits too. They did finish as the Premier Leagues leading scorers for the second year running as they netted 83 goals, but it was the first time since 2009/10 since they had failed to win silverware. A steady decline was in motion, and the sense of underachievement has grown this season. Not since 2008/09 have City lost 10 Premier League games in a single campaign. Man Citys Premier League decline under Pellegrini Season Won Drawn Lost Goals for Goals against Points Position 2013/14 27 5 6 102 37 86 1st 2014/15 24 7 7 83 38 79 2nd 2015/16 19 8 10 70 40 65 4th Pellegrini, of course, is not solely responsible for Citys plight, with player recruitment a constant source of frustration. Last seasons signings of Eliaquim Mangala and Wilfried Bony have not worked out, and this year Nicolas Otamendi and Raheem Sterling have also struggled to live up to their huge price-tags.But while Citys aging squad contains 11 players aged 30 or over, there is still far more quality within its ranks than their league positions suggests. Pellegrini has been unable to get the best out of them, and Citys dismal record of no wins from 10 games against the top-six opponents is a damning indictment of the man making the decisions in the dug-out. Is Laporte the answer? Athletic Bilbaos Aymeric Laporte is a Man City target. Is he the answer to their defensive woes? Pellegrini can, of course, point to the destabilising effect of the Guardiola announcement as a mitigating factor - and it certainly seems as though certain players have taken their eyes of the ball - but he cannot deny that the decline started long before February.So while Pellegrini will be fondly remembered for the moments to savour in his unforgettable first season, he leaves having failed in his task to take City to the next level. The sparse crowd that stayed for his farewell speech told a tale. Guardiola has plenty of work to do to get them to where they want to be. Also See: What do the challengers need? Is Laporte the answer? Who gets into Europe? City-Arsenal talking points
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Bob Griese Youth Jersey . PETERSBURG, Florida – Its been almost seven years since the Blue Jays last won a series at Tropicana Field.Ryan Giggs has told Soccer AMs Tubes that he is willing to speak to any clubs who can match his managerial ambitions. The Welshman left Manchester United last summer after almost 30 years at Old Trafford, the last two which were spent helping to coach the team in various capacities. Soccer AM November 19, 2016, 10:00am Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass However, after Louis van Gaal was replaced by Jose Mourinho as United boss last May, Giggs - who had been the Dutchmans assistant manager during his two seasons at the helm - announced he was ending his long relationship with the Red Devils in order to pursue a career in management. Ryan Giggs says he will be happy to chat to clubs who meet his managerial ambitions The time feels right and, although I have no immediate plans to step into management, it is where I want to be, he said in July.So far, the 42-year-old has yet to take up a role, although he was interviewed for the Swansea City job after Francesco Guidolins sacking in October, before Bob Bradley was eventually named the Italians successor. Soccer AMs Tubes chats to Giggs Giggs, however, is philosophical about missing out on the position at the Liberty Stadium, but he is still keen to talk to other clubs that could match his coaching vision.I spoke to them, so I was pretty close [to getting the job]! It was a good experience for me to speak to them, but like I said before, it just was not to be, he told Tubes in an interview on Soccer AM. Man Utd vs Arsenal November 19, 2016, 11:30am Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass But I also said that if there were teams that matched my ambitions, and the same phhilosophy and way of working - working with the youth system - realistic ambitions, a well-run club, then I would speak to them.
Nat Moore Youth Jersey. Six months half price Upgrade to Sky Sports to watch Man Utd v Arsenal on Saturday and get the first six months half price I do not think that a club should just interview you, you should also interview them, and if they are not right for you, then you should have the right to turn them down.Sometimes it is just a casual chat and then it moves on a step and you will speak again. And then it can be a presentation, power point presentations that you have learned in your coaching badges and your pro licence. Giggs was Louis van Gaals (left) assistant during his two years in charge of Manchester United It is quite relaxed at first, but if that goes well then you take it on to the next level. And that is something from the Swansea interview I learned a lot and I think like anything, the more you do things, the better you get.Either way, though, the player who won every major club honour in the game during his 29 years at the Theatre of Dreams is relaxed about when his next managerial opening may come about. Giggs (centre) won a plethora of trophies during his 29 years at Old Trafford You know what it is like in football, jobs come and go really quickly, so if it has to be next year, then so be it, said Giggs.And one man Giggs still talks to about his future, now more than during his actual playing days, is his former trophy-laden manager at United, Sir Alex Ferguson.I speak to Sir Alex all the time, he said. Obviously such a big influence on my life and my football career, why would you not?If he sees me linked with clubs, then he will ring me up and have a chat about it and say: What do you think?I speak to him more now than when we were working together!See Tubes extended interview with Ryan Giggs on Soccer AM from 10am on Saturday on Sky Sports 1 HD AND Sky 1Upgrade to Sky Sports now to watch Man Utd v Arsenal this Saturday and get the first six months half price! Also See: Pundits predict Man Utd v Arsenal WATCH & VOTE: Best Arsenal v Utd goals Man United and Arsenal Twitter XI Man United-Arsenal social showdown ' ' '
