LONDON • Manuel Pellegrini has said he would rather win the English Premier League (EPL) title and be sacked by Manchester City than continue as manager without enjoying that level of success.
The Chilean took his side to Everton for yesterday's League Cup semi-final first leg hoping to guide City to a second triumph in the competition in three years.
He had won the EPL title in his first season in charge and City sit third in the table on 39 points, three behind the leaders, Arsenal.
And with talks swirling of Pep Guardiola taking over his position next season, Pellegrini has stated the league title is the club's priority and he would take it at the cost of his job.
Guardiola has confirmed he wants to coach in the EPL next season and there continues to be confidence at City that the Bayern Munich head coach will become the club's manager.
Although not discussing this precise scenario, Pellegrini - whose contract expires at the end of the 2016-17 season - stated that if he were to win the championship and then be removed, that would be acceptable.
"I don't think my position in the future is linked to titles," he said. "As a manager, it's important to win the title because it's my job.
"If you ask me personally, my way of thinking is that if I have the option to renew here for five years more or to win the title and be sacked, I'd prefer to win the title.
"For a manager, your work is to win the title, so the other doesn't matter."
Pellegrini denied it would be harder for City or any club to sack a manager who has won a trophy that season.
"I don't think so. If you are the owner of a club, you must have the option to replace the manager if they win the title or if they don't win the title," he said.
"It just is about your trust in the way you work. That is more important than if you win a title or not for the owners. That's why we are just talking about Real Madrid always changing if they don't win a title.
"I don't think that's the best way.
"On the other side, you can win a title, and of course the owner can not be happy with your work and they have the right to change. But as managers, the most important thing is to win."
Despite the continuing uncertainty regarding his long-term future, Pellegrini stated City are different to Real.
Rafael Benitez was sacked after half a season on Monday, while Pellegrini was also axed by the Spanish giants following the 2009-10 season in which they finished second, with 96 points.
"A lot of things are different. At this club, it is not the policy of the owners to change immediately when you don't win a title. I repeat, different projects for each club," Pellegrini said.
"At least I finished the year (at Real). I knew from the beginning I was not to continue for the next year.
"There were some important differences with the president but it is not strange when you see what happened in Real Madrid in the last five or six years."
THE GUARDIAN
