Snodgrass now fulfilling his potential: Pellegrini
MANUEL Pellegrini has praised Robert Snodgrass for reviving his West Ham career.
Snodgrass spent last season on loan at Aston Villa in the Championship and Pellegrini, on his appointment as Hammers boss, told the Scotland international to lose weight if he wished to show his commitment to the club.
Pellegrini had admired Snodgrass in opposition, when the Chilean was at Manchester City and the Scotsman was at Norwich, and informed the midfielder his future at the London Stadium depended on him.
The Hammers boss said: “There were very few words that I spoke with him at the beginning of the season. I gave him some demands
about his weight, about his work.
“He’s a very professional player. He’s doing it very well because he had desire to be here.”
Pellegrini’s side play Cardiff tonight, seeking to back up last Saturday’s 3-0 win at Newcastle, which followed a 4-0 home defeat to Manchester City.
The Hammers boss insisted they are not looking ahead, even though, on paper, there appears to be an opportunity to climb the table in the next few weeks.
Fixtures with Crystal Palace, Fulham, Watford, Southampton and Burnley follow before the end of December.
Pellegrini added: “If we have our minds focused on Cardiff, it will be an important advance.
“To win three more points is what we must do at home.
“One of the most important mistakes you can do is to think that because a team is in a bad position in the table it will be an easy game.
“I hope we give maximum to get the points and after that to think of the next rival.”