Will quit coaching if I don't get interesting offer: Pellegrini

Outgoing Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has said he might quit football coaching if he does not have an interesting offer next.

The 62-year-old has managed top sides like Real Madrid and Malaga and was key to City's success in the recent years. But he will be replaced by Pep Guardiola at City next season.

"If I don't have a really interesting option, I will stop until I find one. If I have to stop (completely), I will stop. It can be now, (until) December, one year or forever. Of course, I would miss it. The challenge keeps me alive," Pellegrini was quoted as saying by The Guardian on Monday.

The Chilean had earlier announced that he would quit on June 30 which was his original date of departure on the contract.

"Yes, it was my decision," he said. "After Guardiola said he was coming to England, it was my decision because all the media was talking about Guardiola here, Guardiola in Arsenal, Guardiola in Manchester United. It was not fair for all managers -- when everyone knew he was coming here."

"I don't want to use (this) as an excuse but it was so difficult to work after that. Not for me, for the players."

City ended this year's English Premier League campaign on 66 points, beating United to fourth place on goal difference. They claimed a second Capital One Cup under Pellegrini and he led City to the European Cup semi-final for the first time.

But still Pellegrini rates the season as poorer than the previous won where City won nothing. This is because of the style of play and the insipid manner in which City crashed out of the Champions League against Real Madrid.

"The semi-final with Real Madrid: they can eliminate you but not in that way," he said.

"Before we were with our mind on other things - at Southampton we lose (4-2), we draw with Arsenal, and we draw with Swansea. So we have two points from the last nine. If we have the normal finish winning those games we finish second. For me which season I was less happy with: this one," he said.

--IANS

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