Real Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini has admitted that he was overjoyed at seeing Liverpool put seven past Manchester United on Sunday.
Betis are due to take on United this evening in the Europa League. And asked about Sunday’s result via Football Daily, Pellegrini admitted that his past allegiances to Manchester City meant he was rooting for Liverpool.
“It really was unbelievable,” gushed the 69-year-old. “I was watching the first 45 minutes, because after that we had to play against Real Madrid, so I couldn’t see when Liverpool scored the other six.
“But of course, I understood immediately what will happen to Manchester United. There is such a rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester, such an amount of goals will not be easy for them [to take]. But I am a Manchester City fan also, so I was not very sad about what happened!”
No doubt such comments will be well-received by the blue half of Manchester.
United humiliated for all to see
Liverpool versus Manchester United is one of the most hotly anticipated games in world football. As a result, we can perhaps expect more comments like Pellegrini’s to surface over time.
That’s what will have made it all the more humiliating for United. The whole world was watching.
Not only have they had to deal with Liverpool fans’ gloating relentlessly, they’ll know that plenty of high-profile figures in the game will have seen it. The likes of Pellegrini of course have a vested interest. Not only is his own side preparing to face United, but as he mentions, he’s a former City boss.
But you can only imagine what potential signings would have made of it all. Take someone like Jude Bellingham for example. Although Liverpool appear to be in the box seat, United would surely also love to sign him.
After watching Sunday’s battering, who do you think he would prefer to join? Everything isn’t black and white in football, but it’s hard to make a case for United in that respect.
So, as damaging as the result was in isolation, it may have a couple of longer term consequences, too. From a Liverpool point of view, the more the better. In the meantime, let’s hope Pellegrini is smiling again tonight!