Pellegrini responds to Haller isolation claims
The manager told reporters in the London Stadium media room “Well we try to play from the second line inside the box to play with him [Haller].
I repeat that I think it’s not easy to create chances against Sheffield United and we did it today. He must play maybe with some players near him but it’s what we try to do today.”
Asked a follow-up question on whether players are getting near enough to him he added: “I think that today we try [to play] with Felipe [Anderson] and Robert [Snodgrass] right inside the box with him. And we created chances that is why we score one of the chances.”
Claret and Hugh say:
Despite the manager’s latest words, fans remain unconvinced about how the £45m record signing fits into the team and what formation plays to his strengths.
If you watched him in Bundesliga last season you would know he is not a striker to play up front on his own. He needs players around him to play off on and pass to the ball to him in the box if we going to realise his potential and his transfer fee worth.
Having said that, there were several times yesterday when both Zaba and Cress were getting forward and playing balls into the area and it has to be said there was no sign of the Frenchman.
Late on Pablo Fornals escaped down the right and it was Snodgrass who was the only player around trying to squeeze it home at the far post.
That’s something of a worry and it’s easier as a result to understand Pellegrini’s words at the pre match press conference from him that we want more from him in that area of the pitch.