Pellegrini: "I went to China because none of the clubs in Europe excited me"

Manuel Pellegrini, currently the coach of Hebei China Fortune, has brought his team on a training retreat at Marbella Football Center in Málaga, Spain. Pellegrini was interviewed there by Sky Sport: "My grandfather was Italian. I went to work at Coverciano [Italian national team training ground] in 1988, and that experience taught me a lot. So many ex-players and useful lessons." Pellegrini's motivation for accepting a job in China? "I went there because I had worked for some time Europe, 12 years, and there were no clubs that excited me. In the past I was very close to Italian clubs and in the future I'd love to become a coach in Serie A. This year, for the transfer market, I drew from Italian football. The level of football in China is growing, it's undergoing a growth phase and in 20 years it will be really strong." And regarding the Champions League, if there is any regret not having won it: "The favorites for winning the Champions League are the usual ones, the Spanish teams: but Juventus shouldn't be counted out. I regret never winning such a prestigious cup."