Manchester City had to settle for a 2-2 draw at the Etihad stadium in Pellegrini’s last game at home. This leaves City in an unfavourable position as they might have to settle for a place in the Europa League if United win their next two games.
Manchester City’s hopes of a Champions League spot next year were dealt a blow after Alexis Sanchez scored the equaliser for Arsenal. Manuel Pellegrini’s last home game was one to forget, with the match ending 2-2 and over three quarters of the fans leaving the Etihad before Pellegrini’s farewell speech.
Aguero opened the scoring for the Citizens in the 8th minute but before they could enjoy their lead, Arsenal scored in the 10th minute via an Olivier Giroud header. It stayed level till the break but De Bruyne restored City’s lead 6 minutes into the second half. It seemed to be going well for City and looked like they were in control of the game, but an Alexis Sanchez equaliser in the 68th minute made sure that City could only take a point.
Manager Reactions
Manuel Pellegrini
Pep Guardiola will take over from Pellegrini in the summer. According to a report in the Daily Star, the Chilean said that it would be unnecessary to get in touch with the incoming manager. He thinks that Guardiola doesn’t need to be told how to go about things in England and that he knows English football. “I also came here and I didn’t speak to anyone about anything. Very professional managers, especially important managers, know what they must do and know about football.”
Yaya Toure is one player who played for and won titles under incoming manager Pep Guardiola. It is believed that he will be let go when Pep arrives, but Pellegrini doesn’t think that needs to happen, saying, “Every time the team doesn’t play well it’s said that Yaya didn’t play well. Yaya had very important games this season and deserves a lot of praise for what he does in this team.”
Arsene Wenger
Wenger told Sky Sports (via Express) that he was surprised by City’s strong start. He insisted that they always expected an intense game, but the pressure that was put on his team from the get-go really took him by surprise. “The good thing is that we absorbed it and we’ve shown good character today,” he said. “Man City today decided to give a big present to Pellegrini in his last home game – they were on fire. When it was 1-1 it didn’t look like we would score but when we were 2-1 down we looked hungry and dangerous again. The players wanted not to lose.”
Arsenal can still catch up with cross town rivals Tottenham, who were defeated by Southampton earlier in the day. The Gunners haven’t finished below Spurs in 21 years. Wenger had said earlier in the week that even if Spurs’ did finish above Arsenal this season, it would be a one time thing but he intends on making sure that there is pressure on Spurs to not slip up. He said, “We have to finish the job now in the league against Villa – we want to finish the season with a win at home.”
Fans from both sides didn’t take too kindly to the result, with Arsenal fans yet again divided by conflicting opinions about Wenger’s tactics. Some of them took to twitter to thank Pellegrini for his three years of service to the club.
Pellegrini won League in 2014: SACKED.
Mourinho won League in 2015:
SACKED.
Wenger hasn’t won it since 2004.
CARRY ON LOSING! #afc— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 8, 2016
Iwobi & Cech both poor today.
They were my 2 last hopes.
Now, there’s nothing.
Just the misery of Wenger continuing. #afc— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 8, 2016
‘He leaves our club much stronger than he found it’
Pellegrini thanked by #MCFC ahead of his final home game v #AFC pic.twitter.com/m27NdPJXlV
— BBC 5 live Sport (@5liveSport) May 8, 2016
It genuinely makes me so ridiculously happy to see @JackWilshere playing for this club, hope he starts next week, more game time! #AFC
— Adam Gibson (@ARonaldGibson) May 8, 2016
Arsenal fans once again, debating on whether their manager should stay on or not.
Naive of those who thought Arsenal couldn’t make it to top four. I mean this man Wenger has been doing it for ages. No one can beat him #afc
— Solomon (@solomone45) May 8, 2016
If that was a great performance I really don’t want to watch a poor one! Shocking mentality from the manager. #WengerOut #AFC ?
— NOBBY (@NO88Y) May 8, 2016
Most of the City fans didn’t seem too interested in staying for their team’s post match lap of honour, or their departing manager’s farewell speech.
#MCFC fans Emptihad and Empty Hearts. They’ll probably ask for the Sheikh’s head on a stake when he leaves too. Talk about ungrateful.
— Profondo Rosso (@Pounds_Sterling) May 8, 2016
Stick your lap of ‘honour’ up your arse. Come clap me at work tomorrow or even better when I’ve spent a weeks wages going Madrid #mcfc
— Pete Hulme (@thegoat10) May 8, 2016
Love it Pellegrini: “If there’s no Champions League football next year that’s Guardiola’s problem, not mine.” #MCFC pic.twitter.com/hVsMpvNNoK
— Mou (@RZRMUFC) May 8, 2016
The #MCFC fanbase are a bunch of glory-hunting, plastic librarians. Horrendous display every match & today was outrageously disrespectful.
— Merseyside Fischer (@MerseysideFisch) May 8, 2016
Pellegrini to the City board once he finishes 5th and Guardiola refuses to join pic.twitter.com/LmH3dVgvnv
— Football Vines (@FootballVines) May 8, 2016
Manual Pellegrini is an absolute gentleman. He will be remembered very fondly.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 8, 2016
Manuel Pellegrini’s amazing send-off. Disgrace. pic.twitter.com/YwZJK7yYmM
— Premier League (@TheEPLZone) May 8, 2016
Phew.
Our qualification for a competition we never win is nearly safe again!#18yearsOfFailure #afc— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 8, 2016
