Chapter 344: Chapter 344: Pellegrini Misses Game Due to Illness, Manchester City Faces Coaching Crisis
Chapter 344: Pellegrini Misses Game Due to Illness, Manchester City Faces Coaching Crisis
"Ranieri Sacked Again, Where Will the Tinkerman Go Next?" After the match, the media's focus wasn't on the game's outcome but on Monaco's decision to sack their head coach, Ranieri. Honestly, Ranieri did a decent job at Monaco. Under his leadership, Monaco had been promoted from Ligue 2 to Ligue 1. Sacking such a meritorious coach without respect was rather unjustifiable.
For the Russian oligarch, however, this seemed inconsequential. Terminating the contract came with a payout. As long as the money was paid, they felt free to fire anyone. The issue, though, wasn't about money but the coach's dignity. Following Ranieri's dismissal, the global football community criticized the financial powerhouses, especially those owned by Russian billionaires.
A few years ago, Chelsea's poor performance led Abramovich to sack multiple managers within a short span. This behavior severely impacted Chelsea's reputation among coaches. Many top coaches steered clear of Chelsea. Abramovich's failed attempts to lure Guardiola to Stamford Bridge were partly due to Chelsea's reputation for frequently sacking managers, leaving a bad impression on Guardiola.
Top-tier coaches like Guardiola have no shortage of offers and see no need to endure such treatment. Even Mourinho returned to Chelsea reluctantly after his stint at Real Madrid. He valued his pride, and being sacked by Abramovich had left a lasting impression on him.
As Monaco and Chelsea faced criticism, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain were also scrutinized. When discussing financial football, these four teams were always the first to be mentioned. A curious journalist asked Manchester City's manager, Pellegrini, if he feared for his job. Pellegrini, having had such concerns last year, was no longer worried after leading the team to a Champions League victory.
"Ha, if the club wants to fire me, I'll take it as an early vacation. You know, leading a winning team is exhausting!" Pellegrini subtly hinted at his successful track record, suggesting it would be foolish for the club to sack him. Ironically, the next day, Pellegrini missed Manchester City's training session.
"Where's the coach?" "Could he be late?" "He's always punctual. Why is he late now?"
As the players gathered, Pellegrini's absence piqued their curiosity. Although training could proceed with the assistant coaches, with a match the next day, Pellegrini's absence was unusual. His presence was crucial for deciding the starting lineup and tactics.
"Everyone, quiet down!" Assistant coach Brian hurried in to announce bad news: "Coach Pellegrini is unwell and is currently undergoing medical examination. I will be in charge of tomorrow's match."
Brian, the most senior assistant coach, was accepted as the temporary head coach. The players were confident that Pellegrini would recover soon. However, his sudden illness worried them.
On October 25th, Brian led a largely substitute squad to London to face West Ham United. This rotation wasn't a last-minute decision due to Pellegrini's illness; it had been planned to rest key players who had just played a grueling Champions League match. Fatigue and potential injuries were concerns, as several key players were already sidelined. Captain Kompany had an injury affecting his performance, but Van Dijk stepped up. More worrying were the injuries to Aguero and Kroos, critical to Manchester City's attack and midfield control.
These injuries signaled a warning to Manchester City about the dangers of their packed schedule, with around 70 matches in a single season across all competitions. Even with rotation, key players would still play nearly 50 matches, including many intense Champions League games.
However, rotation came at a cost. In London, Manchester City faced fierce resistance from West Ham, who treated the match like a fierce London derby. The match's intensity was usually reserved for West Ham's arch-rivals, Millwall, but now Manchester City experienced it.
Just 12 minutes in, West Ham scored, catching Manchester City off guard with a quick free kick. Amalfitano scored, putting West Ham 1-0 ahead. Manchester City's players protested an offside, but the referee dismissed their claims. The quick free kick's foul call was also controversial.
On the sidelines, Brian frowned. The referee's home bias was evident, putting Manchester City at a disadvantage. The young substitutes were too eager, giving West Ham several chances. Trailing and dealing with a biased referee, Brian grew anxious. If the starting players were on the field, he wouldn't worry as much, even with the referee's bias.
Regretting not bringing Lin Quan, who had volunteered to play, Brian realized his decision might have been too conservative. Lin Quan's presence would have significantly increased their offensive threat.
Despite fielding substitutes, Manchester City's lineup was still formidable. In the 43rd minute, Milner capitalized on a defensive lapse to equalize. This goal excited Brian and reassured the main players watching. Winning with a full reserve squad would be ideal.
However, even if they couldn't win, getting a draw was still acceptable. That way, even if Chelsea won, Manchester City would still be ahead by one point. A one-point lead is still a lead. Besides, Chelsea's performance isn't flawless; they can't win every match. This round, Chelsea's opponent was Manchester United.
Although Manchester United had a rough start to the season, they had recently bounced back with two consecutive wins. Van Gaal seemed to have found the right strategy for United. Plus, this match was at their home ground, raising some expectations for their performance. Many United fans hoped Van Gaal could seize the opportunity to defeat Chelsea at home, thereby closing the gap with the top two teams. Beating Chelsea first, then defeating Manchester City, was the perfect comeback script many United fans envisioned.
...
In the second half, Manchester City played steadily, giving their opponents no chances. By the 85th minute, the score remained 1-1. It seemed the match was heading for a draw. However, in the 87th minute, a referee's decision changed the outcome. A West Ham player fell in the penalty area after dribbling the ball in. The referee not only gave Clichy a yellow card but also awarded a penalty. A penalty at this stage of the game was almost a death sentence for Manchester City!
This decision sparked strong dissatisfaction among Manchester City players. They crowded around the referee, protesting and appealing. However, the referee did not change his decision and instead issued yellow cards to Milner and Fernando. It was clear he was determined to give West Ham a victory!
On the sidelines, Brian was so furious he clapped sarcastically at the referee. The referee, prompted by the fourth official, ran to the sideline and directly sent Brian off with a red card. With a penalty against them and their temporary coach sent off, Manchester City was left with no chance and had to swallow a bitter defeat away from home.
After the match, referee Clattenburg faced severe criticism from Manchester City fans. His key decisions led to Manchester City's first loss of the season. "The infamous Premier League refs strike again. How could they miss such an obvious offside by Amalfitano? It's outrageous!" "I bet the referee was bribed; otherwise, why would he make so many controversial decisions?" "What do you mean by controversial decisions? All of them were against Manchester City, clearly under some pressure from above!" "Could it be the Premier League itself?" "Tall trees catch the most wind. Manchester City's impressive performance has clearly put them in someone's crosshairs!"
Manchester City immediately filed a complaint with the FA, demanding an investigation into the referee's conduct. They also used their financial power to flood the media with stories portraying Manchester City as victims, making sure everyone knew about the injustice. Additionally, Manchester City organized and funded a large protest of fans outside the FA headquarters. They were not a team to silently endure injustice. If everyone played dirty, then what was the point of football?
Facing immense public pressure, the FA was forced to respond, promising a thorough investigation to ensure the league's fairness and integrity. Such promises were largely seen as empty words, given the internal protection among officials. Manchester City didn't expect the FA to overturn the results but wanted them to be more cautious in future matches. After all, a major fallout would be bad for everyone. The Abu Dhabi Group was here for business and had assessed the risks. They had already gathered incriminating evidence on several FA executives, ready to be used as a last resort. If exposed, these officials would be disgraced, severely damaging the FA's reputation.
The team's defeat impacted the players' morale, compounded by Pellegrini's ongoing health issues, preventing his immediate return. With temporary coach Brian also suspended for his red card incident, another assistant coach had to step in for the next game. Fortunately, Manchester United managed to draw with Chelsea, keeping Manchester City's two-point lead intact. Though the loss was bitter, the damage was minimal.
Next up, Manchester City would face Manchester United at home. Considering United's recent form, especially their strong performance against Chelsea, this match would be tough for City. Without the injuries and absent head coach, Manchester City would be confident. In their pre-season encounter in North America, City had dominated United. Although United had improved over the past three months, City still had a significant edge. However, given the recent setbacks, the upcoming match's outcome was uncertain.
United's manager Van Gaal saw this as an opportunity to topple their neighbors, boldly declaring before the match that he would lead United to victory at City's home ground, ending City's winning streak against them.
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