Pellegrini’s thorn

Manuel Pellegrini faces a week with many challenges on the table. The derby against Sevilla in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey invites the coach to give another impulse under the context of a thorn in the ground: he failed to win in any of the three derbies that he starred in since arriving in Heliópolis a year ago and medium. Before him, a high-flying event that will once again test his ability to reinvent himself and get the best out of his squad.

Pellegrini lived a draw and two defeats in his derbies against Sevilla. Last season, he led his team to the tables (1-1) in his first stake. His team had the option of taking all three points, but Nabil Fekir missed a penalty in the final stretch. In the second round match, he ran into a more effective version of Julen Lopetegui’s team and a goal from En-Nesyri exposed a 1-0 in favor of the Nervionenses. The Chilean coach did not find the desired path in his third challenge either: he gave up this season at Benito Villamarín by a clear 0-2 and a version of the game far from expectations. The challenge is enormous for a technician used to accepting them.

Pellegrini already knew how to avoid adversity in this campaign and a half in Heliópolis. He placed the Verdiblancos in Europe with a team similar to the one that had been shipwrecked months before. After a course of difficulties in the appointments against the greats, he managed to sign a prestigious victory at the Camp Nou that also paid off that outstanding debt. He has that of the derby. After signing a renewal of his contract until 2025, he intends to start his umpteenth alliance with the Verdiblanca fans.