A title challenge from Leicester City is just a flash in the pan,
says Manuel Pellegrini, but he feels La Liga can learn from England.
Leicester City will not be able
to maintain their place at the top of the Premier League long term
because they do not have enough money, says Manuel Pellegrini.
Having
narrowly escaped relegation last season, a dramatic turnaround has seen
Leicester move to the brink of the title, which they will claim if
second-placed Tottenham fail to beat Chelsea on Monday.
However,
Manchester City boss Pellegrini, who will be replaced by Pep Guardiola
at the Etihad Stadium next season, believes Leicester's success may turn
out to be a mere flash in the pan as he does not believe they have the
financial muscle to continue challenging at the top.
"I
do not think [Leicester being top] is a lesson. They are a very
well-organised team with very few injuries," Pellegrini said in an
interview with El Mundo.
"They have great merit,
but I do not think they will remain at the top for eight or 10 years.
All big teams have money at their base.
"What Leicester have done, I think, is similar to what we did with Villarreal when we finished second [in La Liga in 2007-08]."
Pellegrini
believes the Premier League sets an example in a number of areas that
La Liga could follow, namely in greater equality in the distribution of
revenue from television rights.
With Barcelona and Real Madrid afforded the bulk in Spain, the City coach feels the league has become less competitive.
"[The
Premier League] is an experience that no major coach should miss. The
organisation is perfect, a show for the fans and for television, and the
support of the people is impressive: all the stadiums are always full,
in any competition," Pellegrini continued.
"Stadium
attendance [could be replicated in Spain]. Real Madrid and Barcelona
fill theirs, but people here support their club a lot more, no matter
how the team is doing.
"It could also take a
better distribution of television rights - here all clubs have money to
buy. When I arrived in Spain, there were seven very important clubs, the
league was much more competitive."
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