Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini wants Pep Guardiola to replace him
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini believes current Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola can be a perfect replacement for him in the near future at the Etihad Stadium. The 62-year old manager believes it's only a matter of time before one of the most decorated managers in Europe takes up a challenge in the Premier League.
But, with Pep confirmed to be leaving the German giants Bayern at the end of the season, Pellegrini said, “I am sure that the important managers always want to work here in the Premier League. It is impossible not to want to work here — especially if you have experience of working in other leagues”, as the Mirror reports.
“And I hope he will have the option to work at Manchester City”
Currently, Pellegrini’s Manchester City sit 6 points adrift of league leaders Leicester City and just a point adrift of Arsenal at 3rd and are still alive in all the other 3 competitions. However, the City boss has assured fans that he is not thinking of leaving the Blues anytime soon and still has 18 months remaining in his contract.
He added, “So, Pep Guardiola will work here. I don’t know if it will be next season here at City, or even at another club, but I am sure that one day he will come to the Premier League. And I hope he will have the option to work at Manchester City.”
Another thing that can turn Guardiola’s interest towards managing the Blue part of Manchester is that City’s current Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain and Chief Executive, Ferran Soriano were key influences when Guardiola was forging his reputation at Barcelona.
But, due to Pellegrini’s close working relationship with the Director and the Chief Executive, he believes that he will be kept in the loop about all the important decisions taken at the Etihad and said, “My contract showed that the club was happy and that I was happy, but sometimes you can have a contract for six or eight years and, at the end of the season, you don’t continue anyway.”
“I enjoy England and enjoy the Premier League”
"Maybe other clubs work in that way, where the chief executive decides everything, but that is the worst way to do it. I work with Txiki and with Ferran every day and we talk about next season. It doesn’t matter if I continue as a manager or don’t continue, I think you must always continue to work and prepare.”
If replaced by Pep, Pellegrini still wants to be in the Premier League and rubbished all the claims about him thinking of an early retirement. He concluded, “I enjoy England and enjoy the Premier League. I think it is the best league in the world at the moment and I hope I will continue here in England. First, at City and, after City, still in England.”
The Premier League giants will face Arsenal in their League match at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night.