Opinion | Home and Away: Is the English Premier League's heyday a thing of the past?

Myopia abounds in the running of English clubs, and taking their eyes off the prize is hindering their long-term development

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Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini appears to be getting close to the exit as a trophyless season looms. Photo: EPA

Published: 7:00pm, 20 Mar 2015Updated: 10:18pm, 20 Mar 2015

Could Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini be sacked in the summer? That seems the general consensus after their humiliating Uefa Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona midweek.

City fans will put some blame on the draw. The club has had some tough groups, facing more than once Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund

Some believe the failure to reach the last eight of Europe’s top competition for the second year in the row – plus a difficult mission to retain the Premier League title with Chelsea six points clear, will see Pellegrini lose the backing of his demanding paymasters and go the way of Roberto Mancini.

Mancini led City to their first league title in 44 years when they claimed the 2011-12 Premiership – yet the Italian was unceremoniously sacked at the end of the next season following a barren campaign. In his first term in charge at Etihad Stadium, Pellegrini won the EPL title and the League Cup, but that clearly counts for little.

Roberto Mancini, now in charge at Inter Milan, was a league title winner with Manchester City, before being fired a year later. Photo: EPA

The Chilean’s future is certainly under threat after losing to Championship side Middlesbrough in the FA Cup, followed by elimination for a second successive season in the Champions League last 16.

City fans will put some blame on the draw. The club has had some tough groups, facing more than once Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.

But Uefa’s seeding system, which is based on performance in European competitions over the past five years, is not a legitimate gripe.

City are, after all, seasoned European fortune hunters with world-class international players boasting Champions League and World Cup finals form.

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Myopia abounds in the running of English clubs, and taking their eyes off the prize is hindering their long-term development

Myopia abounds in the running of English clubs, and taking their eyes off the prize is hindering their long-term development