Pellegrini poised to take over at Man City... while Mancini

[Sir X]

Pellegrini poised to take over at Man City... while Mancini tries to ignore speculation and concentrate on FA Cup final

By IAN LADYMAN
PUBLISHED: 17:38 EST, 10 May 2013 | UPDATED: 05:07 EST, 11 May 2013

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Manchester City head into today’s FA Cup final against Wigan at Wembley with Manuel Pellegrini lined up to take over from Roberto Mancini.

The Italian will today try to win the Cup for the second time in three seasons and maintain his record of bringing a trophy a year to the Etihad.
However City’s key decision-makers have been in talks with Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini and the odds on the 59-year-old taking over from Mancini have fallen dramatically with bookmakers.




Ins and outs: Roberto Mancini is set to be replaced by Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini


Halcyon days: Mancini won the Premier League and (below) the FA Cup with Man City





Mancini yesterday admitted his job was in jeopardy, saying: ‘I want to do well, but I know what can happen in football. If we win the Cup most people would say we did a good season, but at Inter Milan I won seven trophies in four years and they still sacked me.
‘In football, you have to wait and see what happens, no matter how well you think you are doing.’
Pellegrini had been linked with the Chelsea job last month but Jose Mourinho is likely to return to Stamford Bridge.

He could be tempted into bringing creative force Isco with him to the Etihad if he arrives in the summer.


New direction: Pellegrini is being lined up to replace Mancini after two years at City


Main man: Pellegrini could bring Isco with him to the Etihad

Mancini himself has heard nothing from within the club to suggest that his position is under threat and has been speaking daily with sporting director Txiki Begiristain about players for next season.
City sources claimed last night to know nothing about a move for Pellegrini but City’s interest in him looks certain to harden up over the coming weeks and one Spanish newspaper was last night reporting that a deal is agreed.
Mancini must try to focus today on the FA Cup final and he insisted: ‘We won’t take Wigan lightly, because always we have a problem against them. We never win easily. They play football all the time and attack you in numbers, and that makes them very dangerous opponents.

'I like Roberto Martinez because he plays good football. With every respect to Wigan, whose chairman (Dave Whelan) is a fantastic man, I think after this season he deserves to manage a really big club.

On his way: Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini arrives at Stockport Rail Station for the journey to Wembley and the FA Cup final

‘We want this trophy. It was always important to Sir Alex Ferguson, or Manchester United wouldn’t have won it so many times, and it is important to us.’
Wigan’s players will toast the biggest moment of their sporting lives with cans of soft drinks if they pull off a major upset against City.
Budweiser may be the FA Cup’s official sponsor, but Martinez has christened it the Irn-Bru final after revealing Wigan’s dressing room will be an alcohol-free zone, whatever the result.
Players and officials of the winning team are traditionally filmed tipping champagne over each other and swigging from bottles, but Martinez said: ‘There won’t be any of that from my players. I know it is the custom for a crate of champagne to be brought into the winning dressing room, but we won’t be touching a drop of alcohol.
‘We’ve got a vital Premier League game at Arsenal on Tuesday, and we have to be mindful of that. So it will be a warm-down after the game, then on to the bus for the journey home in readiness for training on Sunday.‘

Bus parade: The Wigan team bus was mobbed as they made their way to the train station


Meet and greet: Wigan boss Roberto Martinez shakes hands with the fans

‘We can’t have them swigging champagne, because it would stay in their bodies and they would be sweating after 10 minutes against Arsenal. We have a great Scottish contingent, so the Irn-Bru is going to be flowing. Alcohol may be banned, but not Irn-Bru!
‘It used to be train hard and party hard but it is different now. The players understand they must wait eight days and then hopefully have the party of our lives.’
Both managers face a goalkeeping decision, with Martinez ready to choose Ali Al-Habsi ahead of Joel Robles and Mancini expected to prefer Costel Pantilimon to Joe Hart. Mancini said: ‘We will have a good keeper, whoever gets the vote. If it is Costel, it will be because we trust him.’
A Wigan win would enhance the Cup’s romantic image. They were a Northern Premier League team 35 years ago and have not forgotten their humble origins, as illustrated by Whelan’s choice of attire to lead them out. ‘We tried to get him a new suit, but he wouldn’t have it,’ said Martinez. ‘He said there was nothing wrong with the one he wore for the semi-final, and he would stick with that. Perhaps the money he saved will go towards next season’s transfer fund. It would make a difference.’

Selection: Mancini is expected to select Costel Pantimilion ahead of Joe Hart


Key men: Vincent Kompany (left) and Yaya Toure will be influential in the result



More...

• Key Cup final clashes: McManaman explains where the game will be won and lost
• Going out on a high: Pantilimon will seize big chance at Wembley
• When I was told I was going to be in charge of the Cup Final I burst into tears, ref Marriner reveals pride
• Fergie has been 'incredible' and is a 'loss' to English football, says Mancini in secret goodbye note he sent to Manchester rival

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[Lazie]

This is a joke. Why should Mancini be fired? The man has won a trophy every season he is at city. Football management is like musical chairs. As for Rafa, here is a manager that has done his job well and will have to go job hunting next week? Foolishness.

[Sir X]

Mancini is a joke , this man spent 100 of millions in turning over players , its ridiculous , cant make a dent in the C.L and struggles in the Prem.

[Lazie]

Mancini is a joke , this man spent 100 of millions in turning over players , its ridiculous , cant make a dent in the C.L and struggles in the Prem.

Mancini's last 3 finish in the PL is 2nd, 1st and 2nd. How yuh see that as struggles in the Prem? Do better than that Xuberant.

[Sir X]

and turn over of players ?

[Lazie]

and turn over of players ?

Isn't he building the team? Stop finding fault. Mancini has put Manchester City on the football map.

[Sir X]

He spends a 150 million every season on players, spent 500 million his 1st season and 150 since.

Mek abramovich look like fool and anuh fi im money, oil man dem nuh suh fool.

[Dunny]

Mancini WILL be sacked (and his fate was sealed before FA Cup Final shock)... and Pellegrini WILL take over as new City boss


By Ian Ladyman
PUBLISHED:13:30, 12 May 2013| UPDATED:13:58, 12 May 2013

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Roberto Mancini's reign as manager of Manchester City is effectively over.
The Italian will be sacked and replaced by Malaga's Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini as soon as City can put together his severance package.
It is understood that Mancini could even be sacked tonight or tomorrow morning and there is certainly no guarantee that he will be in charge for Tuesday night's Barclays Premier League at Reading.
Scroll down for Graham Chadwick's video of Roberto Mancini after the Final...



Time's up: Roberto Mancini's spell as Manchester City manager will be ended this week





New man: Manuel Pellegrini is set to leave Malaga and take over Mancini's job at the Etihad

Awkward: Mancini shakes hands with City chief Ferran Soriano as chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak (right) watches



Lonely: The Italian collects his runners-up medal after the shock defeat by Wigan

The decision was taken by the three City powerbrokers: Ferran Soriano, Txiki Begiristain and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak before yesterday's numbing FA Cup Final defeat against Wigan.
Even a win would not have saved him.
Mancini has three years left on the new contract he signed after winning the Premier League last season but will be paid a multi-million pound sum according to a clause written in to the agreement.
It is understood that Mancini is being relieved of his position not just because of relatively disappointing results but also because of the way relationships between him and significant others at the club have broken down.

Video of all the action from our photographer at FA Cup Final








Winner: Zabaleta was sent off for City (above) before Watson scored in the dying moments at Wembley










Going close: Mancini's second cup final was a tight affair, but his side were disappointing in a shock defeat





Begiristain and Soriano have by all accounts been dismayed by the way that Mancini's relationship with his dressing room has deteriorated while there has been concern about the way their coach has persistently criticised club officials in press conferences.
It remains possible - but unlikely - that Mancini will be retained until next weekend's final league fixture but he will definitely be sacked before the squad leave for a tour of New York the very next day.
That trip is now likely to be led by assistant manager Brian Kidd.

Masked maverick: Mancini is still loved by much of City's support, who showed their allegiance at Wembley




Patient: Mancini sits right with Brian Kidd before today's final, but where does his future lie?










Wembley way: Mancini led City to Wembley for the second time after 2011's success over Stoke






No more: Mancini couldn't add to the two trophies he has already won as City manager





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[HL]

Mancini should go.

Thats all I have to say about that.

[Dunny]

Unuh don't worry, just go and spend another 300,000 000 this summer it might just get them out of the group stages of the champions league

[HL]

Aye Dunny Boy!!! who feels it knows it.

Mancini has done a fair job. Just that he has some erratic style about him.

ManCity NEEDS manangment stability.

[Dunny]

Aye Dunny Boy!!! who feels it knows it.

Mancini has done a fair job. Just that he has some erratic style about him.

ManCity NEEDS manangment stability.

That is exactly what they need, I don't think Mancini is the right man to take them forward long term. Mancini is a poor man manager in my opinion. He falls out with players to often for my liking. I think Man City should go and get a young manager like a Laudrup and give him a 5 year contract!!

[Dunny]

Manuel Pellegrini: Read our in-depth profile of the man who is set to be Man City boss

13 May 2013 14:10
Tactically astute, a smooth operator and unflappable - Pellegrini may not have won a major league but some guy called Pep thinks he's one of the world's best




AP


If it’s a plan that Manchester City are longing for, then they have gone to the right man in Manuel Pellegrini.
“He’s one of the best coaches in the world,” declared Pep Guardiola in 2011, and the Chilean’s efforts with Villarreal, Real Madrid and currently with Malaga have justified the praise and respect.
The 59-year-old’s first impact on European football was with Villarreal, an unfashionable outfit prior that was turned into one of Spanish football’s most fantastic success stories in recent years.
He called the club “a fantastic project to work with” as the mentality of developing their own players over the long term, meshed with an influx of South American flair, bred much success.
The 4-2-2-2 system of Pellegrini grew in stature and weaved its way through opponents with genuine elegance.
With each season there would be improvement.
In his debut year Pellegrini took Villarreal to a 3rd place finish in 2004-2005, then a Champions League semi-final in 2005-2006 against English opponents in Arsenal.
A failed penalty from Juan Roman Riquelme is still seen as a defining moment, and where the club and even Pellegrini would’ve gone after then is always curious.
The patient building continued, and in 2007-2008 another fantastic barrier was hurdled as Villarreal broke the Real Madrid-Barcelona duopoly to finish second.
They’d finished above a Barcelona side having their sporting activities directed by a certain Txiki Begiristain, who obviously remembered well the Chilean’s achievements to this day in his post at Manchester City as Director of Football.
The mentality of the club had been changed completely, and no longer where they underdogs but true competitors.
In 2008-2009, which was to be Pellegrini’s final year at the club, Arsenal again were to be their downfall in the Champions League, only this time at the quarter-final stages.
On the field, Pellegrini’s style was evident; he’d taken a plain, simple system and infused it with flair and vibrancy but also discipline and intelligence. This, all while working on limited resources.
His message to the players transferred well, and with it some creative, forward thinking football was created.
Pellegrini had it down that it was fundamental his team treat the ball well, and offered mobility off it.
“We soon realised everything he could bring as a coach. It was a lot!” said Josico, part of that Villarreal team of Pellegrini’s.

Sinking submarine: Just a few years after Pellegrini's departure, Villarreal were relegatedGetty

“He gives a lot of freedom to the players and his work is very intelligent. He gets into the mind of the players too, and requires them to train hard and show commitment. Then, the rewards would come” said another, Angel, from that Villarreal team.
Pellegrini’s exterior in the media is one of a suave, calculated figure but well-liked and respected, much due to his polite, eloquent manner when dealing with the press.
That character was to be put to the test, of the most severe sort, upon being handed the Real Madrid job in 2009.
Hand-picked by then director in chief Jorge Valdano, it soon turned into everything Pellegrini detested and never faced at Villarreal.
The president, Florentino Perez, was never a fan of the Chilean, whilst the media in Madrid took every opportunity to stick the knife in.
All the while, Pellegrini remained composed and went about his work, handed to him £210mworth of new signings in the form of Karim Benzema, Kaka, Xabi Alonso and Cristiano Ronaldo.
All in spite of the fact that the two names he wanted to keep, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder, were soon dispatched without his input.
After everything, Pellegrini still managed to achieve a record points haul at the club, but it was not enough in the face of a phenomenal Barcelona side rejuvenated under that man Guardiola, and the capital club finished second.
The media campaign grew more vicious, and Pellegrini was soon gone.
The stability, structure and formula were what he craved but a fierce, politically charged Bernabeu could not deliver it.
Pellegrini’s re-emergence in Spanish football would then come at another interesting project, one where it could be said his work has had even more merit than that in Villarreal.
After 11 games and with the team in 18th, Pellegrini replaced the outgoing Jesualdo Ferreira, and soon set about instilling calm within the divided, unfamiliar camp of components threw randomly together.
Malaga finished in a more than respectable 11th.

Tou good: Jeremy Toulalan was one of the decisive additions made by PellegriniGetty

Working closely with a sporting director in Mario Husillos, there were hints of that Villarreal project but with an added dash of money supplied via Qatar-based owners.
Sensible, system acceptable players were desired and in they came as Malaga went over a quiet overhaul.
Pellegrini guided them to an impressive fourth, and, over time, adapted his system.
The classic pillars of Pellegrini’s football have often been the interiors, or more widely known inverted wingers.
They moved centrally to create numerical advantages against teams, while the attacking players, always mobile, stretched play across all the frontline.
This was a staple at Villarreal, and in theory it was at Malaga too along with the strong spells of possession and pressing full-backs.
Just when he was finally getting somewhere they carpet was swept from under him as the owners financial power dismantled.
Santi Cazorla, Solomón Rondón, Joris Mathijsen and Ruud van Nistelrooy went, while Nacho Monreal went in January.
The club was deflated, but rather than the owners who were Missing In Action it was Pellegrini who rejuvenated the club.
It was Pellegrini who met with the owners in a behind closed doors meeting in Campoamor, Pellegrini who told the owners they needed to speak with the players face-to-face, and Pellegrini who insisted they get paid the €9m or so they were owed.
Pellegrini didn’t have to do any of that but he showed his human qualities put his neck on the line for them all.
There were of course matters on the pitch and with the vast amount of sales the team needed restructuring.
Pellegrini was forced into altering the system again, and he did it with striking methodology as he placed more emphasis on a defensive trap - while retaining the option to keep possession and counter attack viciously. It was balance.

Squad: Malaga's key under Pellegrini was balanceAlex Grimm

It’s this balance that Pellegrini strives for, not pulling or pushing too much in one direction but maintaining a perfect level.
This system and its development helped Malaga reach the Champions League quarter-finals in their debut season in the competition and create a story no one accounted for.
His close relationship with the players was one built around admiration and an enthusiasm to work together – he speaks English too, so replicating that in the Premier League is possible.
Also however there was that respect, understanding and commitment. Pellegrini’s a competitive, ambitious man with a strong will and philosophy.
‘The Engineer’ as he’s dubbed has the capacity to bridge those gaps that Roberto Mancini left during his tenure in Manchester and take the club to the next level.
The owners, Txixi and the players must all be prepared to align with Pellegrini’s plans – do that and a successful future will be engineered



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[Dunny]

Bricky, HL weh unuh say about City new manger (Pellegrini), is he the right man?

[Jangle]

Bricky, HL weh unuh say about City new manger (Pellegrini), is he the right man?

Yuh nuh fraid fe hold raw meat in front a bad dawg mouth??? Yuh nuh hear the man seh nuh address him nor him sidekick til next season??? Choo me nuh bad man, me will hide behind yuh and wait pon an answer.