Ghana coach and former Chelsea manager Avram Grant says Manuel Pellegrini should be given the chance to “correct his mistakes” and stay at Manchester City for next season.
Grant, who currently manages the Ghana national team, took over as Chelsea boss in July 2007 following Jose Mourinho’s departure and had his own contract terminated despite guiding Chelsea to the Champions League final, the League Cup final, and only missing out on the Premier League in the last match of the season.
According to Grant, a manager’s contract should not be torn up because of one poor season.
“I think it always depends on the person. If you know you have a manager you know can correct his mistakes and can correct the mistakes of others, he needs to stay,” Grant told Sky Sports News HQ.
“And I have a feeling that Pellegrini is like this. If you feel that he cannot do it, don’t keep him.
“City were brilliant until January. They played really good football, but since then there have been a lot of ups and downs.
“I think that when you trust a manager you need to give them a chance, even when they’ve not had a good season. And especially, in this case, after last season where Manchester City did so well and had good players.”
‘Understand’
Pellegrini guided Manchester City to a Premier League title and Capital One Cup win in his first season at the Etihad and still has over a year left on his current contract.
But criticism of Pellegrini extends beyond results, the manager having come under fire for his dealings in the transfer windows. And Grant admits managers need to realise the importance of bringing in fresh faces and young talent to revitalise a squad.
“I think Pellegrini needs to understand the Premier League: in the Premier League, even when you win a title you need to bring in new faces,” he said, pointing to the Mourinho’s recruitment as an effective strategy of talent injection.
“With Jose, it’s different. The team was very strong last year but there wasn’t a surplus (of key players) so I think he did very well and brought in a lot of players in key positions: Diego Costa, and Cesc Fabregas, who is one more creative player who feeds the other players.
“That squad is very, very strong, one of the strongest in Europe.”
