And so it begins. Bayern Munich confirm the departure at end of season of their mercurial manager Pep Guardiola, and that Carlo Ancelotti will take over there at Pep's tenure. Manuel Pellegrini is still at Man City, but I don't think anyone, including him, fancies his chances of remaining in that position next season. His club are favourites to bag Guardiola, but a couple of other developments have muddied waters enough to put at least some doubt in that decision whenever Guardiola makes it. Jose Mourinho finds himself out of a job, and Roman Abramovich's interest in Guardiola is an open secret. Louis Van Gaal's position at Manchester United is shaky, given the rash of defeats his team has just endured. PSG is interested as well, though I don't really think Laurent Blanc has that much to worry about. France may not be too much of an attraction to anyone, least of all a high flyer like the multiple trophy winning Spaniard.
What does the man himself think of all this? Famed for keeping his cards close to his chest - no body knew for certain where he was going to end up last time this happened, supposedly on sabbatical, it was quite a surprise when he was unveiled at Munich 3 years earlier - Guardiola himself will stay coy and non communicative on this topic. But a look at his previous decisions would seem to indicate that the Premier League and Manchester City will most likely be his next port of calling. Why? For several reasons, foremost of which is that City may be the only one of his suitors to actually have a team that is most able to continue his winning streak. Sure, Chelsea is a London team and he has friends there, that they were champs last year is also a plus. But the team is a shambolic collection of players - ageing, past their best and despite the presence of some talent - Hazard, Oscar, Willian are not to be scoffed at - a team that is on the cusp of a changeover. Man United may have the history and the past, but the team really needs rebuilding, a task that I think Guardiola would not find to his liking or his considerable talent. If that seems harsh, consider this - he went from Barcelona, at a time when it was threatening to fall apart, to the Bayern that was already double trophy winners in the last year of Heynkes' era. That was a team already in the throes of greatness, and Guardiola carried on that story. Not that he didn't have his stamp imprinted on the club, but when you look at his achievements, you could not say that he took the team to heights never seen. He took them back to the very same heights, in fact one could argue he fell somewhat short as he has yet to win the big one - the Champions League, which ironically was the last trophy that his predecessor at Munich won. I was disappointed when Pep went to Munich. You like to see someone of his caliber and standing to take up a challenge, and to me, he took the easy way out. Not that 3 trophies (and counting) are anything to scoff at, but when you look at it from the perspective of what that club had achieved just in the pervious year, it doesn't seem as impressive.
So Pep, I think, looks for two things when he's shopping for teams - the quality of the team, and their recent successes. Man City may not have won the league last year, but they are favourites to do so this year, if they can recover from their inconsistency, and the constant speculation over who their manager will be next season. If they manage to relieve their minds from the conjecture and the resultant insecurities they should win this at a canter. And I'm sure Pep can see that. Even if they do not win the title this year, there is enough in that team to warrant the contention, shared by many pundits, that this is the best team in English club football, is probably most battle-ready to take on board his game philosophy, and has the financial acumen to provide him the support he needs in terms of players and other facilities. His family might find Manchester a bit of a drag, but then he never stays long enough for the frustration to hit too hard anyway.
What of Mourinho then? After having declared his intent to not take a sabbatical (I can just picture him scoffing at the very suggestion) he seems to have put himself in contention for any plum posts that may be available, Man United being at the top of the list. I would have thought his giant ego might prevent him from taking on the job now, 3 years after he feels he should have been offered the gig. Depending on the version of the story you heard, Mou was supposed to have broken down and sobbed, cancelled his home bookings in Manchester, and burnt pictures of Sir Alex and David Moyes when he learnt he wasn't to be the heir apparent at Old Trafford. Months, or even weeks later he was declaring himself the 'happy man' at the Chelsea unveiling, a second coming of the man they love at Stamford Bridge. So much so, that the Blues, specifically a couple of them, were booed during their 3-1 win against Sunderland, their first game in Mourinho's absence. Now that the Chelsea chapter is finally closed (one surmises), Mou might consider himself magnanimous enough to accept a belated (at least in his eyes) approach from Ed whatsisname and company. That's assuming of course that Van Gaal doesn't get another win in the next 2 games - a likely outcome if you consider the way United have been playing lately. I am reminded of the worst phase during Moyes' final moments as the manager. In fact, I can count on the finger of one hand the days since Moyes' dismissal when United haven't looked exactly like the team that played under the much maligned Scotsman. All this after spending 150 m pounds of the best. The LVG experiment hasn't worked, and unfortunately for the quirky Dutchman, his worst form comes at a time when two of the best managers in the business are available. And that's not even considering the man on the blue side who will be out of a job next season. Pellegrini hasn't done too much wrong, but who wants the best salmon in the world if the caviar is flowing?
Chelsea of course have already put Guus Hiddink in place till the end of the season. Hiddink is the perpetual placeholder, doing this role for the second time at Chelsea. Apparently, Abramovich already has Diego Simeone in his sight once Guardiola refuses his overtures. That would be quite an acquisition, I have to admit. Of the few who I'd like to see at OT, he's pretty high on the list. Pochetino, Klopp, and Tuchel from Dortmund would be others options. Not Mourinho, not Ancelotti, not Benitez, whose days at Real Madrid would appear to be numbered. Speaking of, wouldn't it be something if Guardiola ended up there? He has said he won't manage any other team in Spain, and there are but a few who would be able to have claimed playing on both sides of the Clasico and lived to talk about it...but who knows? Stranger things have happened, haven't they?
The situation around the football world is so fluid, managers cannot guarantee their place in any posting despite the lucrative, often long-term, and seemingly sack-proof contracts they seem to sign off on. Moyes signed a 6 year contract, was sacked before he even completed his first year. Ancelotti was fired from Chelsea, Real Madrid and PSG, and yet retains a healthy respect in the footballing community, so much so that his is the name that tops the list of almost every big club. Once Guardiola makes himself unavailable that is. On the same plane of respect is the Mou. If the troika is exhausted, either because they are otherwise occupied, or have already worked there, there is the second level that has Klopp, Simeone, and inexplicably Rafa Benitez. The most likely scenario that people are betting their houses on are Guardiola at City, Ancelotti at Munich(already confirmed), Mourinho at Man United, Simeone at Chelsea, and Pelegrini at PSG or Madrid. That would leave Benitez to go to PSG.
One feels sorry for LVG. He applied his philosophy and hoped to have his process implemented at United, but it just hasn't worked. Candid as always, he says he'd like not to be sacked from his last job. Whether that was an invitation for other clubs to offer him a short-term contract so he can retire with dignity or not, is a matter of speculation, but I hope he gets his wish. Isn't Swansea hiring?
Will I continue to support United should the nightmare scenario of the Special One finally arriving come true? I don't know. I detest the man - not his managerial capabilities, just him - and the very thought of him taking those Friday afternoon press calls representing my favourite red jersey is revolting. And this recent LVG drama has left me a little disillusioned. The owners are poncy, that Ed fellow is still in charge, taking all the wrong decisions, going after the wrong players (Cristiano Ronaldo, Bale, Neymar????), and the fans are uninspiring (sometimes I want the OT crowd to go to Selhurst Park to watch Crystal Palace - not the team, the supporters). The thing is though I'm not utterly convinced I can keep away from the Devils though. I'm an overseas supporter, I'm not steeped in the knowledge of the history of the Reds, and I certainly can't claim to know the club inside out. But still, I've followed them for the better part of 2 decades now, so I don't know. Even with the renewed interest for Liverpool, I don't see myself changing my colours to the lighter red anytime soon....
What does the man himself think of all this? Famed for keeping his cards close to his chest - no body knew for certain where he was going to end up last time this happened, supposedly on sabbatical, it was quite a surprise when he was unveiled at Munich 3 years earlier - Guardiola himself will stay coy and non communicative on this topic. But a look at his previous decisions would seem to indicate that the Premier League and Manchester City will most likely be his next port of calling. Why? For several reasons, foremost of which is that City may be the only one of his suitors to actually have a team that is most able to continue his winning streak. Sure, Chelsea is a London team and he has friends there, that they were champs last year is also a plus. But the team is a shambolic collection of players - ageing, past their best and despite the presence of some talent - Hazard, Oscar, Willian are not to be scoffed at - a team that is on the cusp of a changeover. Man United may have the history and the past, but the team really needs rebuilding, a task that I think Guardiola would not find to his liking or his considerable talent. If that seems harsh, consider this - he went from Barcelona, at a time when it was threatening to fall apart, to the Bayern that was already double trophy winners in the last year of Heynkes' era. That was a team already in the throes of greatness, and Guardiola carried on that story. Not that he didn't have his stamp imprinted on the club, but when you look at his achievements, you could not say that he took the team to heights never seen. He took them back to the very same heights, in fact one could argue he fell somewhat short as he has yet to win the big one - the Champions League, which ironically was the last trophy that his predecessor at Munich won. I was disappointed when Pep went to Munich. You like to see someone of his caliber and standing to take up a challenge, and to me, he took the easy way out. Not that 3 trophies (and counting) are anything to scoff at, but when you look at it from the perspective of what that club had achieved just in the pervious year, it doesn't seem as impressive.
So Pep, I think, looks for two things when he's shopping for teams - the quality of the team, and their recent successes. Man City may not have won the league last year, but they are favourites to do so this year, if they can recover from their inconsistency, and the constant speculation over who their manager will be next season. If they manage to relieve their minds from the conjecture and the resultant insecurities they should win this at a canter. And I'm sure Pep can see that. Even if they do not win the title this year, there is enough in that team to warrant the contention, shared by many pundits, that this is the best team in English club football, is probably most battle-ready to take on board his game philosophy, and has the financial acumen to provide him the support he needs in terms of players and other facilities. His family might find Manchester a bit of a drag, but then he never stays long enough for the frustration to hit too hard anyway.
What of Mourinho then? After having declared his intent to not take a sabbatical (I can just picture him scoffing at the very suggestion) he seems to have put himself in contention for any plum posts that may be available, Man United being at the top of the list. I would have thought his giant ego might prevent him from taking on the job now, 3 years after he feels he should have been offered the gig. Depending on the version of the story you heard, Mou was supposed to have broken down and sobbed, cancelled his home bookings in Manchester, and burnt pictures of Sir Alex and David Moyes when he learnt he wasn't to be the heir apparent at Old Trafford. Months, or even weeks later he was declaring himself the 'happy man' at the Chelsea unveiling, a second coming of the man they love at Stamford Bridge. So much so, that the Blues, specifically a couple of them, were booed during their 3-1 win against Sunderland, their first game in Mourinho's absence. Now that the Chelsea chapter is finally closed (one surmises), Mou might consider himself magnanimous enough to accept a belated (at least in his eyes) approach from Ed whatsisname and company. That's assuming of course that Van Gaal doesn't get another win in the next 2 games - a likely outcome if you consider the way United have been playing lately. I am reminded of the worst phase during Moyes' final moments as the manager. In fact, I can count on the finger of one hand the days since Moyes' dismissal when United haven't looked exactly like the team that played under the much maligned Scotsman. All this after spending 150 m pounds of the best. The LVG experiment hasn't worked, and unfortunately for the quirky Dutchman, his worst form comes at a time when two of the best managers in the business are available. And that's not even considering the man on the blue side who will be out of a job next season. Pellegrini hasn't done too much wrong, but who wants the best salmon in the world if the caviar is flowing?
Chelsea of course have already put Guus Hiddink in place till the end of the season. Hiddink is the perpetual placeholder, doing this role for the second time at Chelsea. Apparently, Abramovich already has Diego Simeone in his sight once Guardiola refuses his overtures. That would be quite an acquisition, I have to admit. Of the few who I'd like to see at OT, he's pretty high on the list. Pochetino, Klopp, and Tuchel from Dortmund would be others options. Not Mourinho, not Ancelotti, not Benitez, whose days at Real Madrid would appear to be numbered. Speaking of, wouldn't it be something if Guardiola ended up there? He has said he won't manage any other team in Spain, and there are but a few who would be able to have claimed playing on both sides of the Clasico and lived to talk about it...but who knows? Stranger things have happened, haven't they?
The situation around the football world is so fluid, managers cannot guarantee their place in any posting despite the lucrative, often long-term, and seemingly sack-proof contracts they seem to sign off on. Moyes signed a 6 year contract, was sacked before he even completed his first year. Ancelotti was fired from Chelsea, Real Madrid and PSG, and yet retains a healthy respect in the footballing community, so much so that his is the name that tops the list of almost every big club. Once Guardiola makes himself unavailable that is. On the same plane of respect is the Mou. If the troika is exhausted, either because they are otherwise occupied, or have already worked there, there is the second level that has Klopp, Simeone, and inexplicably Rafa Benitez. The most likely scenario that people are betting their houses on are Guardiola at City, Ancelotti at Munich(already confirmed), Mourinho at Man United, Simeone at Chelsea, and Pelegrini at PSG or Madrid. That would leave Benitez to go to PSG.
One feels sorry for LVG. He applied his philosophy and hoped to have his process implemented at United, but it just hasn't worked. Candid as always, he says he'd like not to be sacked from his last job. Whether that was an invitation for other clubs to offer him a short-term contract so he can retire with dignity or not, is a matter of speculation, but I hope he gets his wish. Isn't Swansea hiring?
Will I continue to support United should the nightmare scenario of the Special One finally arriving come true? I don't know. I detest the man - not his managerial capabilities, just him - and the very thought of him taking those Friday afternoon press calls representing my favourite red jersey is revolting. And this recent LVG drama has left me a little disillusioned. The owners are poncy, that Ed fellow is still in charge, taking all the wrong decisions, going after the wrong players (Cristiano Ronaldo, Bale, Neymar????), and the fans are uninspiring (sometimes I want the OT crowd to go to Selhurst Park to watch Crystal Palace - not the team, the supporters). The thing is though I'm not utterly convinced I can keep away from the Devils though. I'm an overseas supporter, I'm not steeped in the knowledge of the history of the Reds, and I certainly can't claim to know the club inside out. But still, I've followed them for the better part of 2 decades now, so I don't know. Even with the renewed interest for Liverpool, I don't see myself changing my colours to the lighter red anytime soon....
