Khaldoon hails champions Leicester's 'tremendous achievement'
Sunday 5 June 2016 22:19, UK
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has thanked outgoing manager Manuel Pellegrini for his achievements at the club, but admitted last season was a "disappointment".
City eventually finished fourth in the Premier League, falling away in the title race following Pellegrini's announcement that he was leaving the Etihad at the end of the season, with Pep Guardiola his successor.
Pellegrini did lead City to a League Cup triumph and the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time in their history but had to watch from afar as Leicester lifted the Premier League title.
Khaldoon says the 62-year-old should be lauded for his achievements in his three years at the club but admitted expectations were not met during the last campaign.
"Let's be objective first. Over three years, we won our second Premier League title in the history of the club, we have won two League Cups under Manuel, we've gone to the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time, we've scored - I think - an incredible amount of goals," he told CityTV.
"At one point, I think in our first season, we scored 151 goals in total, which was a club record and I think a league record. So there are a lot of achievements that have been made in those three years that we all have to recognise.
"Manuel and the team around him, we should thank them and be grateful for these achievements. At the same time, I think we also can't hide the disappointment, particularly this year.
"I think all of us came with high expectations for this season and I think, at the end of the day, I cannot hide the disappointment of myself, obviously Sheikh Mansour, I know the fans of the club and I am sure the entire team."
However, the City chairman paid tribute to champions Leicester after they won their first Premier League title and said their passionate approach to each game was key to their success.
"I think, as a football fan, it's an incredible achievement and something I'm delighted for, for Leicester, for their fans, for everybody involved in that club," Khaldoon said.
"It's an incredible achievement and I think we can all say hats off and commend them and I think it's the right time, on behalf of everybody at Manchester City Football Club, to congratulate Leicester for this tremendous achievement.
"I take a lot from the passion they have shown. This was a team that from the first game of the season until the last game of the season, one thing you know - they gave it all, every single game.
"You had a team that fought hard, that put a lot of passion, a lot of commitment and you can see it in every game that they have played.
"Sometimes passion and commitment doesn't win you trophies but it certainly pushes you to limits and I think what Leicester did this year, while they didn't have the resources of many other clubs in the Premier League, they had passion and commitment in abundance and that won them the league."
