Pellegrini admits he holds no grudges over Manchester City or Pep Guardiola

Pellegrini admits he holds no grudges over Manchester City or Pep Guardiola

West Ham United boss Manuel Pellegrini has insisted that he bears no grudge towards former club Manchester City over the way he exited the club two years ago.

The Chilean spent three years at the Etihad between 2013-2016, winning a Premier League title and two League Cups. But his success wasn’t enough to keep him in a job, and it was clear midway into his final season at the club that he would not be continuing his reign once the season was over.

Pellegrini announced he would not be extending his contract in February 2016, paving the way for Pep Guardiola to inevitably come in and take over as manager. But he continued to give his all at City, leaving a good taste in the mouths of onlookers.

And the now Hammers boss has insisted he holds no bad feelings towards both City and Pep Guardiola, who he will face in this season’s Premier League.



Speaking at his unveiling as the new Hammers boss, Pellegrini said: “I think I receive all the praise that I needed, I don’t need too much praise, but when I arrived at Manchester City, before I signed a contract, I know very well Txiki Beguristain and Ferran Soriano and they called me and they told me they had two options, Guardiola and me.

“At that moment Pep signed at Bayern Munich. And they got in touch with me, they were not doing a casting of managers, they came direct to me.

“And I knew that the moment Guardiola wanted to come to England he would be coming to Manchester City. So I finished three years [of my] contract there, I won the Premier League, twice the cup, was the highest scoring team in the history of England in one season. So I was very happy with my three years.

“I could have stayed in the Premier League but I wanted to go to China [where he managed Hebei China Fortune] and now I am at a great club like West Ham.

“I don’t have any problem with the owner of Manchester City, with the sporting director, with Txiki. They are all my friends and I leave there after three beautiful years.”