The Departing Man City coach Manuel Pellegrini admitted that the club’s mid-season announcement of Pep Guardiola to become the club’s next manager had a detrimental effect on the overall performance of the squad, especially in the second half of the season.
Before wrapping up his journey with the Man City squad, the Chilean made sure that his boys book a place at the Champions League with a draw at Swansea City, their final game of this premier league season. Man City won the Capital One Cup under Pellegrini beating Liverpool 3-1 on penalties and also managed to reach the semi-finals of this year’s Champion League campaign.
The club confirmed that Bayern Manager Guardiola would replace Pellegrini this summer, on transfer deadline day in February.
After Saturday’s match with Swansea, Pellegrini made it clear that he feels that Manchester City’s performance this season could have been much better but the sudden decision to announce Pep Guardiola taking the charge from the next season might have affected the chemistry and disturbed the momentum.
“I wanted to win the Premier League this season, but the atmosphere from February when the club announced the new manager was maybe not the best atmosphere, we lost two important games at home when we were three points behind the leaders,” Pellegrini told the media.
“The entire year we fought for a place in the Champions League and so I think that we deserved a spot in the European Competition.
However the Chilean also shed some light upon the successes and positive aspects of the Man City squad in other competitions.
“This season we have won the Capital One Cup beating Liverpool, reached the semi-finals of Champions League for the first time. We were not at our best but only an own goal in the semi-final against Real Madrid spoilt things for us.
“If you add all those things I think it’s a good season; not a very, very good season, but a good one.” He concluded.