Manchester City: Goodbye Manuel

As Manchester City bid farewell to Manuel Pellegrini as manager, how are we to view his legacy in the light of this year’s league position?

It’s just one of those things, you know something is coming to an end and as it approaches you just want it done and over with. At the airport waiting to return from your all-too-short summer holiday in sunny Barbados to overcast and inclement Manchester? You know it’s coming and every extra moment it hasn’t arrived is like an additional pin being stuck into your voodoo doll.

Cue Manchester City manager-for-now Manuel Pellegrini in his last game in charge at the Etihad. My goodness, it’s just so hard to stand there and give him a wholehearted send-off, isn’t it? We’ve had months to absorb the shocking, and frankly disgusting, way his succession was handled half way through the season. We’ve had enough hours to get over never having that charming man give another charming post-match interview to a charmed Sky Sports interviewer who actually really wants to ask about Pep Guardiola.

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Even more than all that, we’ve had plenty of time to see the team start to nose-dive from contention, to slumping, to hanging precariously on the edge of all that really matters. So it is that, unsurprisingly, few stayed behind following today’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal to mourn the passing of Pellegrini and his tenure when it’s already been done in the hearts and minds of Citizens over and over.

That’s not to say this was a deserved reaction by any means. Today’s game will ultimately be remembered not for its significance for Pellegrini but how City came close but no cigar. Two times the sky blues led an insipid Arsenal and two times they handed them the draw they played for from the first whistle. Arsenal were poor, sitting back in their own half venturing out only when behind. Meanwhile City had all the opportunities and all the possession, but couldn’t make enough out of it. A few defensive howlers later and they gave their opponents a point and Manchester United the chance for Champions League football in their stead.

Many will blame Pellegrini for this, if indeed United do capitalise by winning their final two games (or even winning one and drawing the other), but it has to be suggested that Manchester City were genuinely a bit unlucky today. I’m honestly not sure what more they could have done. The defensive errors were asymptomatic of a season in which we’ve had nothing but and Pellegrini’s choice of playing the woeful Eliaquim Mangala is only because there’s literally no other option available.

Further, while this season undoubtedly saw City take a worrying step back domestically, their progress in Europe is undeniable and for this Pellegrini must be applauded. Few commentators suggested City would see a semi-final finish in the Champions League this year, having failed even to reach the quarters previously, and honestly they could well have made it past a far-from-impressive Real Madrid too. Yes, they lost and looked lost on the park, but it doesn’t necessarily detract from the accomplishment.

Doubtless Pellegrini will point to the trophies, winning the league and the league cup twice in his three year tenure here, as evidence that he had a successful run at Manchester City. In some ways he’d be right. But why then am I left with such a sour taste in my mouth after it all, that longing and yearning for the Pep era to just get on with it and begin?

I feel it comes down to something that goes beyond the superficial. Yes, we won trophies under Pellegrini and the Champions League campaign this year is worthy too of praise. All that’s wonderful, but in the midst of it all we’ve lost something that goes beyond statistics – threat.

Roberto Mancini’s team have aged and many, see Yaya Toure as the prime example, are no longer the game dominating forces they used to be. Sure, you’ve got a few evergreens like Sergio Aguero and Joe Hart still carrying the side, but not enough has been done to sufficiently update the team over time. Arguably the only acquisition worth its weight in gold last summer was Kevin De Bruyne and his injury over February saw us lose four games out of five.

Blame the outlandishly ill-conceived timing of Pellegrini’s replacement for the slide in fortunes, but City haven’t beaten a top five club all season (lost 5, drawn 4) and that’s just not good enough. For all the bottom lines, this season has slipped away from City and should it slip to United would do considerable damage to the side as Guardiola seeks to replenish the line-up in his inaugural year.

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So there it is. There’s much good to be said about Pellegrini and his time here, but I think by now we can all agree his time is well and truly up. I was sorry to hear that this charming man would be leaving, back when it was made official, but now I’ve had that time and I’m more than ready for the change. Manuel Pellegrini made us champions again, now let’s see what Pep Guardiola can do to build on it.