OB1 said:
I'm no cynic said:
He does have a valid point though. The 1st and 2nd place teams in that league are almost known before the season begins. It's just which order the season ends that is up for debate.
That was the only other European League that Pellegrini has managed in; do either of you see the irony there. Even more ironic then that Pellegrini manged to split the two horses with Villareal.
So what we seem to get is that his record in spain can't count because it is a two horse race and of course all his trophies in South America count for nothing.
I never denied his abilities in Spain, and his record too in South America is a worthy one. Mugs do not manage River Plate. The point, though, that I am agreeing with him is that Real and Barca are European giants, let alone giants in their own league, and the finishing order can be predicted as each season begins, just as it could in Scotland before the Rangers demise. There will be the odd occasion when another team breaks the mould such as Ferguson did at Aberdeen, but these interruptions never stand the test of time. For this reason, the point made that Real Madrid's defence record not really being valid is a worthy one, although I will accept that Madrid's defence record did markedly improve from Pellegrinis appointment.