Manchester City not a hire-and-fire club like Real Madrid, says Manuel Pellegrini

Manuel Pellegrini is not surprised by Rafa Benitez's sacking at Real Madrid and insists his club Manchester City treat their managers with more respect.

Benitez was dismissed on Monday after only seven months in charge at the Bernabeu with Real legend Zinedine Zidane handed the reins.

Zidane is the Spanish club's 13th manager this century with president Florentino Perez wielding the axe yet again but it is a situation known only too well by Pellegrini, dismissed after one season (2009/2010) despite accruing a club record points tally in the Primera Division.

Asked about Benitez's demise, Pellegrini said: "At least I finished the year! But I knew from the beginning I was not to continue for the next year. There were some important differences with the president.

"I'm sorry for Rafa Benitez, he's a manager I respect, but I'm not surprised. It's not strange after what you've been seeing there."

Discussing Zidane's prospects of succeeding despite his limited managerial experience, the City boss had a dig at his former employers, adding: "Managing a big team is always very difficult, but it's more difficult with the way they manage the club.

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"A lot of things are very different [between Real Madrid and City].

"That's why one team is changing their manager every year and this team does not have the politics of the owner changing [the manager] immediately if you don't win the title - there are different sport projects."

Speculation intensified over the future of Pep Guardiola on Tuesday with the Spaniard, set to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season, announcing his desire to manage in the Premier League.

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City, Chelsea and Manchester United are reported to be the favourites to have Guardiola as their next boss.

On Boxing Day, asked about the speculation on being replaced by Guardiola, Pellegini said: "I am just thinking about winning against Sunderland. For me, it doesn't matter if I continue or not."