Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has apologised for the circumstances surrounding his replacement of Manuel Pellegrini at the club in 2016.
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.
The closing stages of Pellegrini’s final season at City were played out in the knowledge that the Chilean would be making way for Guardiola in the summer of 2016.
“I think the decision was consulted by all parts,” Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
“I think everybody was honest. But I don’t know, only Manuel can answer. I’m sorry for what happened, but the intention was not to create a problem for when he was here. I don’t know.
“I was in Munich, so I don’t know what happened in the locker room and what the reason why is. But if it was the reason (they didn’t win more titles) – I think nobody can know it – I’m sorry and I apologise.”
Pellegrini will bring his West Ham side to Manchester on Wednesday (Feb 27), making his first visit to the Etihad for a match since City sacked him to make space for Guardiola.
The Chilean confirmed in February 2016, three months before his departure, that he was being replaced, and City, who were still in contention to win four trophies at that point, picked up only seven points from the seven league matches that followed.
Following his three-year spell with City, Pellegrini spent two years managing in the Chinese Super League with Hebei China Fortune, before returning to the Premier League with West Ham last summer.
Despite spells of inconsistency, Pellegrini has guided the London club to the top half of the table, and they remain within reach of a seventh-place ‘best-of-the-rest’ finish with 11 games remaining.