Pellegrini: "Man City's titles can't be taken away by Premier League"
Premier League announced an investigation in Man City toward several alleged breaches of the competition's rules. Although possible punishment has not been confirmed, there are rumors of stripping the Citizens of their titles.
Manuel Pellegrini, who won the 2013-14 league title with City before being replaced by Pep Guardiola, believes the financial allegation can't take Manchester City's titles away.
"That league can't be taken away because it's been lived – with your fans, at the ground," Pellegrini told
the Guardian. "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 runner-up now feels like the champion.
"Football is the moment. You win on the pitch."
Pellegrini won Man City's second league title after Roberto Mancini provided the first in the 2011-12 season. The Chilean coach believes his former side's spending was not unordinary. He added: "The criticism is unfair. If there had been an astronomical difference, then maybe, but Chelsea were spending a fortune, Manchester United were spending a fortune, Liverpool, Arsenal.
"The work City did was very good; it's not just related to money.
"For example, they swapped Mancini for me for football reasons. And then [when I left], they said: if it's not 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."
The current Real Betis coach further indicated the league's diverse spending power has become one of its strengths. However, he believes the best football is played in Spain.
"City, United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, now Newcastle, could all compete for the league," Pellegrini said.
"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."
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