Should Manuel Pellegrini Be Wary over Manchester City Link with Pep Guardiola?

There seems little doubt that after securing two trophies in his debut season playing a stylish brand of football that largely thrilled and excited, Manuel Pellegrini retains the support of the Manchester City directors and, indeed, the vast majority of the fans.

It was only the second time in the club’s history they had won two trophies in the same season, with Pellegrini becoming the first-ever City boss to win two major pieces of silverware in his debut year in charge.

He did it, primarily, through his man-management skills. He took on a group of players and staff who were divided and unhappy. The previous manager, Roberto Mancini, had led in an autocratic, dictatorial fashion, which worked initially as he led the players out of the Mark Hughes-inspired malaise, but ultimately it led to cracks appearing in the squad and an underperforming team on the pitch.

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Pellegrini alleviated any stress and pressure the players may have been feeling and put his arm around those in need of some attention. Suddenly, players who had been underperforming under the Italian were back to their best, and the quality of the football City produced was breathtaking—better than anything the club had seen for at least 30 years. 

It’s a record deserving of respect. He barely got any credit for his achievements outside of City and was criminally overlooked for the LMA Manager of the Year award. However, among his own supporters and staff, he is revered for what he managed to achieve last season, particularly given the injuries suffered to key players during the campaign.

That’s not to say he’s perfect. Pellegrini certainly has his drawbacks. He can be stubborn tactically, which has led to City being too easy to play against at certain times. This has been particularly evident in Europe, where an insistence on playing a flat two-man midfield has seen them outpassed and outnumbered too often.

A bland media persona has also held him back from being fully embraced by the club’s supporters. Where his predecessor, Roberto Mancini, talked passionately about taking down the banner at Old Trafford mocking how long City had gone without winning a trophy, Pellegrini constantly straight-bats questions thrown at him by journalists.

It’s great for the club who are scarred by the hysteria that defined the Mancini era, but for the supporters it makes it difficult to fully embrace him.

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Fans want something to galvanise them, some passion to inspire and excite. Pellegrini sometimes gives off an impression that he is incapable of rousing his players in times when they most need it, a quality which, when compared to the likes of Jose Mourinho, leads to doubts about his position at the top table of football managers.

And this season is in danger of fizzling out early for City. If the League Cup exit against Newcastle’s reserve side was hugely disappointing, the FA Cup defeat at home to Championship side Middlesbrough was embarrassing.

They are in the last 16 of the Champions League, but their progression from the group stage was unconvincing to say the least. City had two points after four games but rallied in their final two matches to secure a passage to the knockout phase.

They stand five points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea in the table, with defeat at Stamford Bridge this weekend likely to end their title chances. Mourinho would surely not relinquish an eight-point gap for a second time this season. It feels like a must-win game for Pellegrini’s men.

All is not lost, and a win in west London would certainly alter the picture dramatically, but City’s struggles have led to speculation that the club may begin looking for a replacement. Pellegrini is likely to see out his contract, which has 18 months to run, but if an attractive alternative became available, he may not see it extended.

One name which has been linked is that of Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola who, according to Stuart Brennan at the Manchester Evening News, remains in regular contact with Txiki Begiristain, the club’s director of football who worked with Guardiola at Barcelona.

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Guardiola is one of the few managers who would be attractive to Begiristain. It was Begiristain who saw the potential in Guardiola and worked alongside him in constructing one of the finest club sides ever assembled at the Camp Nou, and Guardiola’s commitment to an attractive brand of football certainly fits the Begiristain blueprint.

He is also one of the few who would be an upgrade on Pellegrini. Guardiola is in the top tier of managers, part of a select few who appear to guarantee both success and respect across the football community, and he would surely be the top choice to lead City into their next phase of development.

Pellegrini is going nowhere fast, but Guardiola would be a sensible successor.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard