Manuel Pellegrini rewarded for dropping Manchester City Untouchables

There were five 'Untouchables' in the Manchester City team which Manuel Pellegrini inherited from Roberto Mancini during the summer of 2013 and, until Paris Saint-Germain were put to the sword in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final second-leg, the Chilean had chosen to leave that privileged quintet largely intact.

Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Sergio Aguero had all earned their elevated status by achievements and performances on the pitch, and although Hart was dropped early on during Pellegrini’s tenure following a dramatic loss of form, no pivotal game has taken place over the past three years without the five central figures in the starting XI unless injury had ruled them out.

Kompany’s month-long absence with a calf injury had been put forward by Pellegrini as the reason why the Belgian was not risked against PSG, but as the City captain made a point of displaying his fitness by leading the warm-up, jogging in front of the cameras at training on Monday morning, it seemed as though the manager was simply cushioning the blow in public for the centre-half.

Similarly, Toure’s selection on the bench against PSG – he made an appearance in the closing stages as a substitute for goalscorer Kevin De Bruyne – was sold as a gentle way back into the team following a recent injury, but nonetheless, Pellegrini’s decision to leave two of the team’s biggest personalities on the fringes for one of the most significant games in the club’s history was a defining moment.

It has taken him almost three years, but Pellegrini’s decision to do what is right, rather than avoid confrontation with his 'Untouchables', could ultimately have been the key which unlocked the door to the semi-finals. And in doing so, Pellegrini may have accelerated the evolution process which Pep Guardiola will inherit when he replaces the former Real Madrid coach this summer.

Pellegrini got tough when it mattered and the end result was a team which appeared strong in all areas, one without the tactical deficiencies which Toure, in particular, has exposed whenever Pellegrini indulged the Ivorian by allowing him to wander around the pitch, leaving dangerous holes for opponents to exploit, against Europe’s best teams.

When City produced one of their most convincing European displays by defeating Roma 2-0 in the Stadio Olimpico in December 2014, Toure’s unavailability for that game led Pellegrini to pair Fernando and Fernandinho in holding midfield roles – a double act which provided the platform for the attacking midfielders to do damage further forward. The same pair were in tandem against PSG, performing the destructive role which worked so well against Roma and Toure was not missed.

And in defence, the partnership between Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi helped stifle PSG’s attacking threat, with Mangala’s athleticism and Otamendi’s tenacity offering a glimpse of promise should Kompany’s injury problems continue in the same vein as they have for the past two years.

There is an argument that Pellegrini has taken too long to shrug off his caution and go with his instincts rather than allow the 'Untouchables' to retain their protected existence. But perhaps the impending end of his tenure at City has imbued Pellegrini with a more laissez-faire approach. If Toure does not like being benched for Champions League quarter-finals, the fall-out is much easier to deal with if you are set to head out of the door in six weeks’ time.

Legacy is also important to Pellegrini, with his dour demeanour hiding a determination to leave City with his reputation enhanced – sources at the club have made no secret of his ongoing irritation at being overlooked in favour of Brendan Rodgers for the Manager of the Year award at the end of his first season in charge when City won the Premier League and Capital One Cup.

“To leave this club without arriving to a new stage would be a bad thing for me,” Pellegrini said. “I came here to Manchester City because I had good performances in Europe. It was important to demonstrate this team can improve in Europe, especially after I had good performances with other clubs such as Villarreal and Malaga before.”

By taking City to the semi-finals, Pellegrini has already achieved his primary objective, but in doing so, he has smoothed the path for Guardiola to move the team forward.

City have proved they can take on Europe’s best and beat them without Kompany and Toure and, with De Bruyne quickly becoming a younger version of Toure, Guardiola can get to work with two of the team’s bigger beasts already looking over their shoulders. But it will all mean little if City allow themselves to take their eye off the ball in the Premier League and become distracted by the Champions League to the extent that they do not even qualify for next season’s competition.

Pellegrini has fallen short by overseeing a dismal challenge for the title, but he can redeem himself in the final weeks of this season.

And if he does it, he will do so by finally being his own man.