Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini pointed Pep Guardiola as the reason for the declining performance of the Citizens since the beginning of the year, which makes them lose the chance to be champions of the Premier League.
In late January or rather before Kevin De Bruyne injury, City actually still second in the standings with just two points from Leicester City at the top.
However, along with the absence of De Bruyne, City later announced the appointment of Guardiola as their new manager replacing Pellegrini next season. Guardiola was given a three-year contract.
Guardiola's early announcement is aimed to create peace at the same time reduce all the rumors about the future of Pellegrini.
However, the existing City have decreased dramatically in the league performance, though still competing in the Champions League semifinals. City are now stuck in third place of the standings with 60 points, 13 points of Leicester at the top, which makes their chances to be champion shrink if not downright completely closed.
According to Pellegrini, the appointment of Guardiola has to make the players do not calm related to rumors about his future each, making it difficult to perform optimally.
"Of course there are many reasons related to our defeat in crucial matches in February, against Leicester and Tottenham, two games that made us tersingkit of the title race," Pellegrini said in Soccerway.
"I feel frustrated because we never thought they'd lost at home to Leicester and Tottenham. But there are many reasons why it could happen, we will finish the season in a way that is not normal, "he continued.
"At the beginning of February there was news about the change of manager, about the players who will go next season, there are many things that exist in the minds of all the players."
"It is not easy of course for players when you read in the paper about what happens next season, players will go, players will come. Not easy for the players to stay focused, "he concluded.
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