Manuel Pellegrini: ‘England is the best league but the best football is played in Spain’
“It was tackles and muddy pitches and heads crashing together,” Manuel Pellegrini says. “And that’s the football that fans like.” The first time he came to England was to complete his coaching qualification; it would need 15 years for him to return, taking on the man who had taught him then, and 26 to win the league there; now he’s there again for a night, back to the country where it all began and one of the nine cities across five countries and three continents he has made home since leaving Santiago. Thirty-five years have passed, much has changed, but don’t bet on this being the last.
The Real Betis manager hasn’t come to reminisce, although the memories are fond, if some a little fuzzy, and being 69 doesn’t mean stopping. The former Manchester City manager takes on Manchester United in the Europa League last 16 with a Betis team that come from drawing with Real Madrid, are three points off the Champions League places and hold the Copa del Rey – the club’s first trophy in 17 years. He has won a Premier League he says can never be taken away, even if it is, but that cup may be his greatest achievement since setting out for Shropshire. This would be even bigger.
It was a different time, a different place, a different football too, and it formed him. Somewhere is a photo: Pellegrini with Bobby Robson near a 19th-century country lodge. It’s recognisably him even though it is 1988, Robson is England manager and Pellegrini a recently retired Chilean centre-back, largely unknown and still unsure that choosing coaching over engineering is a good idea. He came to Lilleshall, the Football Association’s school of excellence, attending classes from Alex Ferguson. Few names stuck, but he remembers that one well, although he imagines Ferguson does not.
Seventeen years went by before they met again when Pellegrini coached Villarreal against Manchester United in the Champions League. Four times they would meet and he remained unbeaten, all four finishing 0-0. When he returned to England as City manager a decade ago, Ferguson had gone, things changing. The Scot may be in the stands at Old Trafford on Thursday night; in the dugout will be Erik ten Hag, the fifth manager Pellegrini has faced there, post-Ferguson. He has beaten them all.
At City, Pellegrini saw a special rivalry – although not quite like Boca-River or Betis-Sevilla, he admits – and oversaw a shift in power and style. If he marked Manchester, Manchester marked him, all those places did. Quito, San Lorenzo and Buenos Aires; Villarreal, Madrid and Málaga; Hebei, London and Seville. England, though, retains something unique. “English football, England in fact, istradition,” he says. It is also where it began, a countercultural lesson embraced.
“Lilleshall guided me when I arrived at City later, helping me to see things from an English view,” Pellegrini says. “I was lucky to live in Manchester, to see how United and City fans lived and breathed football. City’s success made new demands of United. Traditionally they were bigger but it’s changing; kids tend to support winning teams. English football changed but respects tradition. When I came in 1988 it was about getting the ball into the area quickly. Some of that essence is maintained. A team that’s 1-0 up wants a second and a third.”
Recently a stat appeared to underline differences: in La Liga this season there have been 98 red cards, in the Premier League 20. “England’s way is the right way,” Pellegrini says. “There’s less simulation and referees let it flow. The spectacle matters and there’s strength. City, United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, now Newcastle, could all compete for the league. The distribution of money is better, the amount generated. In Spain the gap is significant.”
“England is the best league but the best football is played in Spain. Look at the Champions League and Real Madrid or Barcelona are champions. In the Europa League, Villarreal and Sevilla.”
And Betis? This is a talented team, recognisably his, but it is a huge task, Pellegrini knows. Asked whether winning the Europa League would be akin to United winning the Champions League, he replies: “Much bigger. United have won it, they have a history. Betis have that desire but compete from an unfavourable position. You can’t compare Betis to United. Even getting the chance to face them is pure hope.”
Just before Betis kicked off against Madrid, Liverpool put a seventh goal past United, but United had previously lost once in 20 since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. Not that Pellegrini sees the link, insisting: “Ronaldo’s presence is never a problem, because of his commitment, professionalism, ability, dedication, what he transmits. A new coach came, investment was made, changes. That’s not easy. It’s a process, not about a player. Ten Hag has a trophy now, his style fits. Hopefully things go well now – after this game.”
A potential Qatari takeover could mean United getting stronger still. What was Spanish for
foot again? It is a debate Pellegrini feels keenly; he is conscious of the context of success and the weight of financial strength, placing great value on his achievements at smaller clubs, but the idea that City was easy, all about money, does not sit well. Nor does the prospect of retrospective punishment for allegedly breaking financial fair play rules whose real aim and impact he wonders about.
Experience, life, is a recurring theme as he talks about his journey from Santiago to Seville via Shropshire. “The criticism is unfair,” he says. “If there had been an astronomical difference, then maybe, but Chelsea were spending a fortune, Manchester United were spending a fortune, Liverpool, Arsenal. When I arrived, Txiki [Begiristain] and Ferran [Soriano] hadn’t been there long. The work City did was very good; it’s not just related to money. For example, they swapped [Roberto] Mancini for me for football reasons. And then [when I left], they said: if it’s not [Pep] Guardiola, it’s you. You work for three years, Guardiola comes: there’s continuity. Other big clubs invested but couldn’t do that. We’ve seen teams come up, spend £100m, go down again. And €100m is an amount 18 clubs in Spain can’t spend.
“That league can’t be taken away because it’s been lived – with your fans, at the ground. You were at Wembley, you lifted a cup. Could there be some legal means? I hope not, that everything gets clarified. But that can’t be taken from you. Imagine they take the trophy away, I don’t think the runnerup now feels like the champion. Football is the moment. You win on the pitch.”
There’s pride there. At the Benito Villamarín stadium there is, too. Four trophies adorn the entrance, all those Betis have ever won, and one is his. “To win the cup after 17 years: it’s a whole generation, kids who weren’t alive last time. The only league is from 1935, another era. To bring that happiness to Betis fans whose support is absolutely unconditional – at other clubs numbers might dwindle – is unforgettable.
“When you win at clubs used to winning things, everyone’s happy, but reach a cup final with Betis, a Champions
League semi with Villarreal, a quarters with Málaga, and thousands wait at the airport: those emotions are so intense because of the clubs they are. I’ve won 12 trophies but that experience is priceless.”
Pellegrini has been talking for an hour and it’s almost time to go, his players arriving for training, when he asks a question. How many managers are older? There is a long pause. Ancelotti? “Five years younger,” he shoots back. “There must be one or two,” he says, but it’s hard to think and that defines him, drives him. Vigente is a word he uses: valid, in-date. He has no meniscus and can’t join sessions but there’s golf, tennis, running and the bike, daily. Luxuriant hair too, like a musician still rocking. No winding down.
“There are two ages: the chronological age and the ‘age’ that’s about your own demands, activity, enthusiasm. My dad used to say something which stays with me: ‘Do the same as yesterday and you won’t age a day.’ When do you get old? When you stop. When you can’t be bothered. When you think: ‘I lost, so what? I’ve had a great career.’ No, I lost and I’m bitter, angry. I don’t leave home. That’s my character, I can’t change it now. As long as I get that same pre-game knot in the stomach as when I started, I’m totally alive. It’s not age. Every game I’m starting from zero.”
Even though you’ve done it all? “But I haven’t,” Pellegrini protests. “I’ve still got things I have to do. I have to win on Thursday.”