How Manuel Pellegrini ensured Man City were ready to thrive under Pep Guardiola
His influence on Manchester City cannot be understated and he deserves credit for the glory years that followed his tenure.
Manuel Pellegrini returned to Manchester on Thursday evening as Real Betis manager as his side resumed their Europa League campaign.
The Chilean is fondly remembered by City supporters for his achievements during his time at the Etihad Stadium. In February 2016, City's board announced that Pellegrini would be leaving at the end of the season to make way for Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola has since taken the Blues to new heights but the groundwork Pellegrini laid is often overlooked. To mark his return to Manchester, MEN Sport has taken a look back at the former boss' time at the club and how it has helped to define modern-day City.
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When Pellegrini first arrived at City in 2013, he came in on the back of a disappointing campaign. Runners-up in the Premier League, an early League Cup exit, a Champions League departure at the group stages and a shock defeat in the FA Cup final to Wigan Athletic, spelled the end of Roberto Mancini's time in Manchester.
City were in need of a change and Pellegrini was the man who stepped up to the task. The Blues' 2013/14 season saw records tumble.
Pellegrini's new team became the fastest club in Premier League history to reach 100 goals in all competitions. Their prolific nature in front of goal would continue as they broke Manchester United's record for the most goals scored in a season (156 in all competitions).
After the disappointment of yet another group-stage exit in the Champions League the season prior, Pellegrini broke new ground. The Blues progressed from a group consisting of Bayern Munich, Viktoria Plzen and CSKA Moscow to reach the knockout stages of the elite competition.
A famous night in Munich saw City come from two goals down to beat Bayern 3-2 at the Allianz Arena. However, Pellegrini's side's inferior goal difference saw them finish second in the group and it would cost them as they were drawn against Barcelona in the last-16 and were dumped out by the La Liga giants.
Hopes of silverware did not vanish when the European journey ended. Pellegrini delivered the Premier League and League Cup double, the first time this had been accomplished by the Blues since the 1969/70 campaign.
Unfortunately for Pellegrini, the Chilean suffered from a difficult second season. City once again fell at the last-16 hurdle in the Champions League.
The Blues also failed to retain the Premier League title or the League Cup that year and impatience was starting to creep in among the owners. Pellegrini admitted in 2021 that City's board had spoken about wanting to work with Guardiola at the very beginning of his tenure.
"When I first met with City, the sports directors told me that they worked with Pep in Barcelona and wanted to work with him at Manchester City," he explained. "They also explained that he had stopped for a year and was in the United States, but that if he wanted to join City, he would be the manager.
"If not, there would be no casting for managers, I would be manager. Pep decided to join Bayern that same summer and the next day City called me and said, ‘Manuel, we have to talk with you, we have a contract’.
"Malaga were happy for me to leave because the money was being cut and all the players were being let go, so I signed with City." From the outset, Pellegrini was deemed to be the second-choice option but he continued to build for the future.
Two of City's most influential players during the Guardiola era were signed by Pellegrini in the 2015/16 pre-season. Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling both put pen to paper on deals at the Etihad as the Blues continued their bid for dominance.
However, with the Blues three points behind leaders Leicester City in February, the City Football Group made the decision to approach Guardiola. With time running out on his spell in Manchester, the Premier League took a back seat to the Champions League.
With the League Cup in the bag, City reached new heights in Europe's elite competition, reaching the semi-finals for the very first time. A narrow defeat to Real Madrid ended the Blues' hopes of European glory, though the foundations for Guardiola were there.
When City fans look back and assess the Pellegrini era, many will look back upon it fondly. The biggest takeaway is that City became more of a force in Europe under the ex-Real and Malaga man.
They finally reached the knockout stages of the Champions League and proved they were a team with plenty more to offer. The likes De Bruyne, Sterling and Fernandinho - all of whom were signed by Pellegrini - all went on to become key players in Guardiola's side.
It took Guardiola a season to really make his mark at City, but without the Pellegrini era, the transition period may have been even longer. In 2013, the Catalan boss seemingly did not see the club as being one he would be able to push to greatness, but after the Chilean's work was done, City were ready for that next step.
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