Diego Forlan writes a weekly column for The National, appearing each Friday. The former Manchester United, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid striker has been the top scorer in Europe twice and won the Golden Boot at the 2010 World Cup. Forlan’s column will be written with the assistance of European football correspondent Andy Mitten.
My old manager Manuel Pellegrini could do what Jupp Heynckes did at Bayern Munich in 2013 and win the Uefa Champions League despite knowing that he's going to be replaced by Pep Guardiola at the end of the season.
He is in an unusual situation knowing that whatever he does, he is going to be out of his job. It will be even more unusual if he leaves when Manchester City are the European champions.
Because of my United connections, I’m no fan of City, but I would be delighted for this dignified man if he was to win another trophy this season, to add to the League Cup.
He knows how football works, knows that things go on behind the scenes, but all the speculation about Guardiola taking his job can’t have been pleasant.
Still, as you would expect from such an honest person, he has stayed professional, he has won a cup and he has shown no resentment for his situation.
Having played under him for three years when he took our Villarreal side to the semi-finals of the Uefa Champions League, I know and respect Pellegrini, just as he respects others in football.
City fans like him, but the English media have not really warmed to him because he gives little away. They would prefer a showman who can give them headlines, the more conflicts the better. They liked Jose Mourinho, they liked the rows between Rafa Benitez and Alex Ferguson. They even like Louis van Gaal because he is never dull when he talks.
More Diego: Manchester City, Pep Guardiola and Manuel Pellegrini all know the deal, coaches come and go
Also read: Diego Forlan – Alex Ferguson left Manchester United wanting, and there will never be another
For all of Diego Forlan's columns: See his The National author page here
Pellegrini doesn’t give them the same headlines. He doesn’t shout or make cutting remarks. He keeps his emotions in check. He is calm, cerebral and calculated – in a good rather than devious way.
I think City wanted a man to be more balanced than their previous manager Roberto Mancini, a great player who was successful as a manager and brought City their first trophy in 35 years, but a man who made headlines fighting with players and being emotional.
That’s not unusual in football and some fans like personalities who wear their hearts on their sleeves, or shout on the touchlines.
I've seen Manchester United fans frustrated at Van Gaal as he sits on the bench during games. He wants his players to work solutions out for themselves, and a player must make multiple decisions every second they are on the pitch.
The owners of some clubs don’t want their managers to be emotional though. They want them to present a calm and positive image of their club and, in Pellegrini, City have that, not that the media will write about him as much because he is not so interesting for them.
Pellegrini doesn’t want to get involved in conflicts with the media or be drawn into saying things which will be twisted. He has been like that all his career. I saw journalists try to provoke him in Spain, but their words washed over him.
His priority is coaching his team to the best of his ability and making them play attractive football. He has done this at every club he has managed.
I’ve even seen it suggested that he is boring because he doesn’t give much away to the media. Trust me, he is a highly intelligent man who is fascinating in private.
Pellegrini is used to being overlooked. He was criticised when he arrived in Argentina because he had “only” coached in Chile and Ecuador, which Argentines considered weaker leagues.
He soon proved people wrong, enjoying success with River Plate and San Lorenzo, two huge clubs. He’s a stable, sensible man who isn’t drawn in by emotion in an emotional game.
This is a man who is a qualified engineer who built buildings to withstand earthquakes, and then watched as they withstood an earthquake in Santiago.
This is a man who played 500 games for one club as a player. He is dedicated, reliable and dependable, qualities which have helped him become a success and manage clubs such as Real Madrid and Manchester City.
Pellegrini is 63 now. I see a man who could retire but does not want to do so. He has the energy of a younger man and he loves football.
He has been linked with the national job with Chile manager many times, so maybe that’s a future option for him, but Chile, the South American champions, named Juan Antonio Pizzi as their new coach in January to replace Jorge Sampaoli.
I’m sure Pellegrini will have lots of offers in management from around the world. His CV is excellent, but first he has some huge games, starting with the Manchester derby this Sunday at the Etihad Stadium.
City have faltered in the league, but they are not out of the title race. I wouldn’t complain too much if United knocked them out of it!
Pellegrini has taken City into the Champions League knockout stage three seasons in a row, something the club had never done before, twice while coming from a group which included Bayern Munich. They won that group this season and seem to be growing in confidence.
City are the only English team left in the Champions League after Arsenal were knocked out by Barcelona on Wednesday.
When City last played Bayern, maybe Guardiola knew that he was going to take Pellegrini’s job. Maybe Pellegrini knew too, but it wasn’t public.
Now it is. Imagine if the pair were matched against each other in today’s draw? That could be the most intriguing tie of all.
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