City puts United further in shade with Guardiola coup

Paul Scholes blamed Ferguson’s planned departure for Man Utd’s under-performance in the 2001-02 season (they finished third in the league, which by their standards was under-par).

“I know him but not well enough to know something about his real targets or reasons for coming here”.

There were also rumors that City’s resident midfielder, Yaya Touré, will be ready to exit the club upon Guardiola’s take over as he does not have a good relationship with the coach, particularly after the latter sold him to City during their time with Barça in 2010.

Pellegrini revealed he would not be taking up the year’s extension to his contract agreed last summer and that he had been kept fully informed of everything happening at the club.

“We defended very well”. We appreciate we’ve got a job to do, next season is next season. With the bickering Mancini and Mario Balotelli no longer around, the negative headlines and off-field drama at City largely disappeared.

But Nasri at his best fits into Guardiola’s philosophy, and with a contract until 2019 he could back himself to win over the new boss after Pellegrini’s patience wore a bit thin.

His team hasn’t been boring, though. “This is a team who are fighting relegation”, Pellegrini said of Sunderland.

Guardiola won 14 trophies in four seasons in charge at Barca and has twice won the Bundesliga with Bayern.

Whether Guardiola wants Zabaleta is not known, but he knows the value of having a player who is sewn into the fabric of a club, as well as one who is utterly committed, loyal and a consistent performer.

But The Sun adds that if City have a pretty ambitious Plan B, and says that if they fail in their attempt to lure Lewandowski to the Etihad, then they will “intensify their pursuit” of Lionel Messi.

It is now second in the league, behind Leicester City, and has reached the Champions League last 16, the FA Cup fifth round and the League Cup final, against Liverpool on February 28.

The positives will likely outweigh the negatives when Pellegrini’s reign is analyzed.

Riyad Mahrez continues his sparkling form, but just misses out on the player of the year award to Mesut Ozil.

“We really enjoy playing under Manuel”, Hart said.

He has been a top manager for us and his man-management has been something I have personally enjoyed so we will look to give him the best send-off he deserves.

Chelsea’s resurgence under Guus Hiddink will see them fall just short in their race for the top four, according to Football Manager.