Moving Target – Manuel Pellegrini

Earlier this afternoon, Manuel Pellegrini was finally confirmed as the new man in charge at Manchester City. The Chilean arrives on a three-year contract and will be tasked with bringing silverware back to the Etihad after last term’s disappointing title defence and FA Cup final defeat, which ultimately led to the dismissal of Roberto Mancini.

Having given a comprehensive interview to the club’s official website, the 59-year-old – who will take up the position from June 24 – went on to say:

“I am delighted to accept this hugely exciting opportunity. The Club has a clear vision for success both on and off the pitch and I am committed to making a significant contribution. Everything is in place for Manchester City to continue to be successful and I am excited to be able to work with such a talented squad, the Executive team and the Board to deliver for fans who are renowned for their steadfast support.”

The History

A former centre-half by trade, Pellegrini spent his entire playing at Universidad Chile from 1973-1986 before being installed in the managerial hotseat the year after his retirement. He managed a number of clubs in his homeland and also had spells in Ecuador and Argentina – most notably at the helm of River Plate – before making his way over to Spain in July 2004, where he was handed the reins at Villarreal.

In his first term in charge of the “Yellow Submarine”, Pellegrini guided the club to a third place La Liga finish in addition to the UEFA Cup quarter-finals. Over the course of the Chilean’s five years in charge, Villarreal also made it to the last four of the Champions League and broke up the Barcelona-Real Madrid La Liga pecking order, by finishing second in the Spanish top division back in 2007-08.

Pellegrini then moved to the Bernabeu prior to the 2009-10 campaign, with Real spending over £200m in the summer transfer window on the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso in an attempt to end Barcelona’s domestic dominance. Despite racking up a then-club record 96 points, Pellegrini could only muster second place and made way for Jose Mourinho after just one year at the helm.

He was then installed as Malaga manager in November 2010 and, in his first full season in charge, guided the club to fourth spot in La Liga – their best ever domestic finish. Despite losing the likes of Santi Cazorla to Arsenal last summer, Pellegrini steered his side to the Champions League quarter-finals and sixth in the table before deciding to part company with the club late last month.

The Previous Regime

Taking over the reins from Mark Hughes in December 2009, Roberto Mancini’s somewhat cautious style of play saw City become the resilient backline in the Premier League. In his three full seasons in charge at the Etihad, City accrued 18, 17 and 18 clean sheets, though the Italian’s penchant for full-back rotation, particularly in their 2011-12 title-winning campaign, diminished our Fantasy options.

While City were consistent at the back, their stuttering attack undoubtedly played a major part in Mancini’s downfall. Having clinched the crown from United thanks to goal difference and a total of 93 goals scored, they found the net just 66 times last time out as opponents began to stifle their somewhat one-paced approach. With the league already lost with a handful of matches to spare, City’s FA Cup Final defeat at the hands of Wigan saw Mancini dismissed before the season was out though according to reports, he was already on borrowed time after allegedly losing the dressing room some time before his departure.

The Season Ahead

With Fernandinho and Jesus Navas on board, the Pellegrini revolution is already in full swing as City look to draw a line under last term’s disappointment. A more open, expansive style of play could be on the cards and may bring City’s main Fantasy assets back onto the radar after a season which saw Joe Hart finish their second highest performer in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game.

Tactically, Pellegrini mainly opted for a 4-2-3-1 at Malaga, fielding a lone striker system in all but one of his side’s 38 La Liga matches, though he also has a penchant for a 4-2-2-2 formation, which brings plenty of attacking license to his sides’ approach. As the-then Villarreal manager explains in this clip on tactics, he prefers a two-man frontline, though adapts his system in accordance with opponent.

Certainly, such an approach would require the full-backs to push on, offering width from deep – if the likes of Gael Clichy, Pablo Zabaleta or Micah Richards can nail down a regular role, they could be an intriguing option from an attacking perspective, should City’s defensive resolve slightly diminish with such an approach. The central midfield industry and mobility afforded by Fernandinho and Yaya Toure would be essential for this system to flourish, while the duo behind the front pair would require plenty movement, drifting out to the wings to create space – Navas’ arrival makes sense from this perspective.

While his final term at Malaga was restricted by a spate of player sales that forced a more defensive outlook, Pellegrini will have no such issues at the Etihad and looks set to be given carte blanche to restructure the side to one of his own making. With plenty of options available, then, it remains to be seen just what shape the new man has in mind – while Navas would slot in on the right in a 4-2-3-1, for example, David Silva, Samir Nasri, Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez and Yaya Toure all offer alternatives behind a lone frontman, though the latter seems best-suited to a more withdrawn role under the new manager, bombing forward to join attacks from deep. City have also been linked with a move for Spain U21 international Isco, who played under the Chilean at Malaga and finished last term as the club’s top scorer, with nine goals harvested from his role in “the hole”.

In terms of transfers in and out, last season’s top scorer Edin Dzeko’s lack of mobility has seen the Bosnian linked with a move away, while similarly, Gareth Barry’s consistency of starts looks doubtful as Pellegrini looks for a more dynamic approach. Joleon Lescott, Aleksandr Kolarov, Maicon and Scott Sinclair could all be set for the chop as the new man in charge looks to freshen up his options. With more arrivals expected – Napoli’s Edinson Cavani is a target – City’s summer shopping spree and pre-season formation will be key to how we assess their Fantasy prospects. After a season in which City scored more than twice on just eight occasions – and once in the last 18 Gameweeks – there’s no doubt that Pellegrini’s arrival looks a breath of fresh air for Fantasy managers after Mancini’s underwhelming final year at the helm.