The shadow of outgoing Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola is falling across the Premier League after the ex-Barcelona player and manager announced that England would be his next footballing destination at the end of the season.
Incumbent Manchester City boss, Manuel Pellegrini, has already admitted that he expected Guardiola to follow him at City and that day might come sooner rather than later as bookies made Guardiola a strong favourite to take over at City in the summer.
The Chilean admitted that he could be replaced at the end of the season but today declared that he was determined to win titles in what could be his final season with City.
He said: “I don’t think that my position in the future is linked to titles. It’s important for me to win titles because it’s my job.
“If you ask me personally if I have the option to renew here five years more and don’t win the title or win the title and be sacked, I choose to win the title.
“If you are the owner of a club you must have the option to replace the manager if he wins a title and to keep him if he doesn’t.
“It’s about your trust in the way you work, it can be more important than if you win a title for the owner.”
Pellegrini was speaking on the same day that Zinedine Zidane was unveiled as Real Madrid manager.
As a former Real manager, the Chilean knows well the politics behind the scenes of the Spanish giants and sympathised with Zidane’s predecessor Rafael Benitez who was sacked on Monday after seven months in charge at the Bernabeu.
“At least I finished the season!” said Pellegrini who cracked a rare smile, “From the beginning I knew I wasn’t going to continue the next year because of some important differences with the President.
“I am sorry about Rafa Benitez but it’s not strange for Real.
“If we are talking about Real Madrid, all the changes if you don’t win a title is not the best way.
“You can win a title and the owner can not be happy with your work and they have the right to change.”