Apologetic Guardiola Lays Down Unexpected ‘Red Carpet’ for Returning Pellegrini

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Pep Guardiola expects former Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini to receive a warm welcome from the home fans on his return to the Etihad Stadium.

Pellegrini spent three years in charge of City after arriving in June 2013, winning the Premier League – as well as the EFL Cup – in his debut season before finishing second in the table behind Chelsea the following year.

However, the Chilean announced his impending departure midway through the 2015-16 campaign, shortly before the club confirmed the appointment of Guardiola as his successor.

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Pellegrini’s side were chasing a quadruple when it was announced in February 2016 that then-Bayern Munich boss Guardiola would replace him at the end of the season.

Having returned to work in England after a spell in the Chinese Super League, Pellegrini will be back on familiar territory for the first time since taking charge at West Ham, who visit his old employers on Wednesday.

“What reaction will Pellegrini get? The reaction he deserves. I’m pretty sure it will be high. He did an incredible job,” Guardiola told the media ahead of the fixture.

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“The league he won was outstanding, the amount of goals, the way they played. He had a good team and they did well.

“Here in England, I think there is a lot of respect for the people who were playing or managing, especially with Manuel because he is an excellent person. He’s always polite and always respects clubs.”

Guardiola is sorry if the situation created any difficulties for Pellegrini and was the reason the team may have under-performed.

He said: “I think the decision was consulted by all parties, I think everybody was honest.

“The intention was not to create a problem for when he was here.

“I don’t know what happened in the locker room and what the reason is, but if it was the reason I’m sorry and I apologise.”

Samir Nasri was a member of Pellegrini’s title-winning squad in 2013-14 and the pair are now back working together at the Hammers, the France midfielder signing a short-term deal at the start of the year after serving a doping ban.

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