Manuel Pellegrini has both the best and the worst job in the entire world.
Coaching Real Madrid is the best job in the world because the club’s transfer roster is the ultimate grocery list of superstar players. But the man also has the worst job in the world because of the great expectations that come with such a stacked deck. And Pellegrini knows that regardless to what is or not done this season that he might be on his way out of the building.
Sure the guy has his club greatly improved from a year ago and they are currently in first place ahead of last season’s first ever La Liga treble winners, but first place is apparently not good enough when Inter’s Jose Mourinho has shown remote interest in fulfilling the duty. But what will likely be just as important as the finale of the La Liga season will be this Wednesday’s Champions League match against French side Lyon.
Pellegrini’s first match 1-0 loss to the squad had many football critics whispering about the potential coaching vacancy in Madrid, but if the all whites can perform up to their rising standards this week and win by two goals over a tough defensive team then they might briefly silence the critics until next round at least.
But if Pellegrini’s boys look as poor as they did a few weeks back then Mr. Mourinho’s name will begin popping up in the papers again like spam mail. It is funny how such a long season can go down to such a short amount of time. And this week the league’s best coach this year might be judged by a period of ninety minutes.
So in other words the job is a little more stressful right now.
