PELL IS ZAB FAB FOR US
PABLO ZABALETA says West Ham’s players never doubted Manuel Pellegrini’s approach despite a nightmare start to his reign.
The former Manchester City boss got his first Premier League win with the Hammers when his side beat Everton 3-1 on Sunday.
They had lost their first four games, but Zabaleta revealed the players never questioned the tinkering by the Chilean as he looks to find his best team after spending more than £100m in the summer. The 33-year-old said: “We always believed it. You have so many players who came in during the summer with a new manager and new style of play, and you have to find the right team.
“Every single game is so difficult and it took five games to get the first win but you can see how tight the table is.
Spirit
“It is only a few points different so it is important now to pick up points every single game and look forward.
“A victory lifts the spirit in the dressing room and we can think about the next game against Chelsea.
“It has been a tough few months for the manager, especially when you try to bring in a new style of play. Sometimes it doesn’t work out and you keep changing the team to try to find the best XI.
“We hope this is the beginning of something.”
Lucas Perez has denied reports he refused to go on as a sub against Everton. During the second half, TV replays appeared to show the Hammers striker, who had just finished his warm-up, not wanting to come on after Marko Arnautovic had gone down with a knee injury.
Pellegrini played down the claims after the game, and yesterday Perez said: “Given the false information spread by the media that has affected my image, I am obliged to explain the only truth, I have never ever refused to warm up in my whole career, let alone play a match.
“In my current club the players on the bench warm up in a series of three to five minutes, in continuous rotation. In the moment that Marko was injured, I was on the bench after warming up.
“The coach called me to go out to play. However having realised it was faster to substitute [Michail] Antonio in, who at the moment was warming up, he changed his decision.” AYOZE PEREZ says Newcastle now have the perfect opportunity to climb away from the foot of the table.
And he believes the lessons they learnt last term, when they overcame a mid-season slump to finish 10th, will hold them in good stead.
Rafa Benitez’s men are stuck in the relegation zone without a win in six league and cup games so far.
The fixture list has not been kind to Toon, who have already played – and lost to – four of the Big Six.
They travel to Crystal Palace this weekend before facing Leicester at St James’ Park and Perez feels a clearer picture will emerge after those games. “Our season starts now,” said the Spaniard. “It’s true that the fixture list didn’t help us. It’s not a good situation but it’s way too early to worry because there’s a long way until the finish.
“There is now a chance to go up against teams in our own league and get some points. There’s a lot of work to do but the points will come.”