Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has warned successor Pep Guardiola that managing in the Premier League isn’t an easy task.
Pellegrini will take charge of Man City for the final time on Sunday as his side take on Swansea City, with Guardiola poised to replace him ahead of next season.
Guardiola has enjoyed much success at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but Pellegrini suggested that the Spaniard could take time to adjust to the English game.
As reported by the Daily Mail, the Chilean coach said: “There is no bitterness. But, of course, it’s a new challenge if it’s your first time in this league.
“I’m not just talking about Guardiola, I am also talking about myself, in the first year I arrived here.
“I think it will get more competitive because the TV rights are increasing every season, so every team will have more money to spend on good players.
“It’s also very important to consider that this season we have played 16 games more than Leicester.
“That makes it more difficult to reach the first four places in the Premier – and that is why it will be difficult in years to come.”
Pellegrini’s side will definitely secure a top-four finish with a victory over Swansea, and Guardiola would doubtless be delighted to inherit a side in the Champions League.
Despite the fact that they won the Capital One Cup, this has been a rather frustrating campaign for Man City, who have struggled for consistency in the Premier League.
The Citizens have created an impressive average of 12.5 chances per Premier League game this season, but they have often appeared vulnerable defensively, although Pellegrini often hasn’t been able to call upon a settled back four.
It will be especially intriguing to see what changes Guardiola makes to the Man City squad during his first transfer window in charge of the club.
The Catalan arrives off the back of a third successive Bundesliga title with Bayern, though he fell at the semi-final stage of the Champions League in each of those seasons.
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