Manuel Pellegrini has produced a fascinating article in which he looks back over his years in the game and declares: “It’s a source of pride for me to have been at all those clubs and to have left them with a style of play.”
However, there’s a warning for the West Ham board when he says: “It’s about having the capability financially to bring in players to compete with the big teams.”
But he soon adds: “To have been respected by the fans and to have an image that you don’t just leave on the pitch but carry off the pitch, too and, of course, those clubs have all left their mark on me as well.
“Each one proving in some way that I was right to choose this life. Some 30 years after I first took the risk at Universidad de Chile, I am still doing what I like. It was the best decision I ever made.”
But he admits it has involved him in living alone which he describes as “a test you have to undergo if you want to work in different countries.”
You are on your own in places where you don’t know anyone. After a defeat, you come home to an empty apartment. To the dark. Just to do it all again the next day.
The full article can be found at https://www.coachesvoice.com/manuel-pellegrini-west-ham-real-madrid/
In the meantme Here are some of the Pellegrini recollections on River Plate, Villareal, and Real Madrid
River Plate
“It was at River Plate, where we won the league and reached the final of the Copa Sudamericana, that I think my name really grew internationally.
When I finished there I was offered me a great contract – financially – in Mexico.
But, after I really considered it, I said no. I knew it would have been really hard as a manager to go from Mexico to Europe. So, with a much smaller financial offer – less than half of what was I was being offered in Mexico – I made my decision.
Villareal
I came to Villarreal. And, well, I think it was a really good decision because I came to an extraordinary club.
As far as I’m concerned, it’s one of the best clubs in terms of organisation: a chairman who understands the vision clearly and has the capital to make the club grow. And a director of football who, apart from a few exceptions, had great dialogue with players coming into the club.
If I had told the club then that over the next five years we were going to finish as runners-up in the Spanish league, qualify for Europe every year and reach the Champions League semi finals, they would have put me away in the madhouse.
But I asked the players to step up and, gradually, they understood.
Personally, those five years helped me to understand European football really well. Painfully well, at times.”
Real Madrid
“When Real Madrid came calling, there was a huge satisfaction for me. After making so many sacrifices, I had the chance to work at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
For a Chilean coach to be the Real Madrid manager is not even a one in 100,000 chance. I would have loved to stay there longer.
But that would have required a better relationship with the chairman. We had significant differences over some technical and executive aspects. Logically, in a club, the executive side will always win.
But on the pitch we did a great job. We amassed more league points than Madrid had ever done before and scored 102 goals in La Liga – even with Cristiano Ronaldo being out for more than three months with a fracture.
It’s about having the capability financially to bring in players to compete with the big teams.”
I was ok the appointment a week ago, but still a bit sceptical. I have to admit I am being won over. This guy is saying all the right things for me. How good would it be to recognise a West Ham ‘style of play’ ( other than desperate defence then try & nick a goal). There is no doubt he carries himself with more than a bit of natural dignity too. To have a man leading the club who wil be respected by outsiders would be nice too.
There is obviously a ‘but’ lurking here. Two buts in fact. One is the reference to’the need for finance to bring in players’. All the top managers these days know the truth of this- you can’t even survive long term on a shoestring. I think he would have been shrewd enough to get this sorted. We shall see.
The other reservation is that he cannot rebuild this club on his own, & there are other people who will influence whether he creates a new club that demands respect out of the current mess. Can he impose his vision on the owners? Will they work with him to give him what he needs or start undermining him when he challenges their way of doing things? I still have my doubts & don’t want to get too excited until I have seen som evidence of change. But I am along for the ride & I wasn’t sure I was going to be a few weeks ago.
The bit about needing money to compete with big teams,is slightly taken out of context he actually says that when he was with Real Madrid.COYI
It was not out at context at all – it was his general view in a piece from The Coache’s View. I know it’s nice to pick fault but they are his words and applied in general circumstances
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Nice post 64. Well said.
Interesting that he said ‘It’s about having the capability financially to bring in players to compete with the big teams’ when he was talking about Real Madrid. We cannot compete with that
Wouldn’t mind using that as a blog 64 – you okay with that?
No problem if you want to Hugh. Time must be hard lol.
shall we just see see wot happens in transfer market first this guy is no mug & hopefully we will get the players in to improve us since the days of Payet as since he left we have watched some proper dross onwards & upwards as Mr Pellergrini don’t seem to be a guy who takes fools so Mr Sullivan take a back seat shut your gob & let him find the tools we need to make us a proud club again not to much to ask COYI
Not at all 64. Decent blog that.
If u want your name used e mail me at claretandhugh@gmail.com
I am pretty hopeful for Pellegrini, like that website coaches voice !! A lot is going to depend on who he can sign, either he can turn Lanzini into the player he should be or we need to sign a playmaker who can consistently release the right passes, Pascal Gross at Brighton would be right up there on my list as someone affordable, Shelvey maybe although he has a fair bit of baggage, I heard a rumour we might be interested in Super Mario (Balotelli) he is another that could light up our front line now he seems to be a bit more mature off the field, whatever happens am looking forward COYI !!!