Former Hammers’ Manager Manuel Pellegrini has opened up on his time at West Ham United in a frank interview with BBC.com.
Spending eye watering amounts on exotic Brazilian and German players – sound familiar?
In an interview where he is very quick to point the finger of blame elsewhere for the performances on the pitch, he does at least endear himself to the Hammers fans:
The West Ham fans are unbelievable. 50,000 (now 60k plus – MT) at every game with the passion for the team. I have no complaints about the fans because they were always with me’.
As far as making the decision to come to East London, the Italian (oops! Chilean) certainly has big regrets: ‘Looking back, when I finished in China, If I waited a little bit more I could have had another club. But West Ham were keen and convinced me’. Apparently, events at the outset were ok:”They ( the owners) knew I left a lot of things to go to West Ham. I had a contract in China. I changed a lot of things. The aspiration to fight for better started in the first year I was there. They invested more money.
Invested? I should say so! Well we remember the signings – especially those of Felipe Anderson and Jack Wilshere that .. um.. could have gone better. In fairness, over nearly two years he also signed Andriy Yarmolenko, Issa Diop, Sebastian Haller, Lukas Fabianski, Ryan Fredericks, Fabian Balbuena, ah yes and Carlos Sanchez .. and the underwhelming Lucas Perez.
Proof, if any were needed, that spending hundreds of millions of pounds on players needs careful co-ordination and planning, seeking those who are both a good football ‘fit’ and of the character that will enhance the dressing room. There, too, I see a clear difference compared with our 2024 recruitment.
So, after some very hefty outlay, back in 2018/19, we all expected results on the pitch. Pellegrini points the finger in the BBC interview:” For different reasons, you can have bad moments. But in that moment, as a manager, you must be sure the owners will continue. They did so many things for me to go to West Ham, but the first thing that went wrong, they sacked me. That is not the style of club I like.”
I believe we were down in 18th position at the time! Hardly the ‘first thing that went wrong’.
I’m sure lessons have been learned by the club, noting indeed that new Head Coach Lopetegui has just a two year contract with an option on year three if we get back into European competition. The expectation has been set out for J’Lo from day one.
Pellegrini’s ultimate failure was to spend hugely and fail to perform. Certainly he was backed in the market, as Lopetegui is today: Let us fervently hope that the similarity ends come 17 August when our season starts. I firmly believe the top-six finish we all seek is firmly in reach this season.
Martin he is from Chile not Italy.
Oops. thanks !
Didn’t he sign the great Roberto ?????
He never had Tim Steidten behind him either!!!
Surely one of the reasons we now have a technical director in Steidten is to avoid what happened in the Pellegrini era? As for a top Six finish that would be nice but is that a reasonable target for a first season with a new playing style? We may have spent some money in the transfer market but equally several teams in the current top six could spend as much on one player this window. Let’s not start setting the stage for Lopetegui failing if we do not finish in the top six. As many have said better football than Moyes produced would be a great start.
Roberto. Great signing
Keeper or midfielder 🤣
We will not finish in the top 6 ; unless we sort out the defence. There is time, & I think the new management know what they are doing but, as yet, the defence is looking even worse than last season !
For Pellegrini re Loppy, alot of simlarites and I think it will all end in tears. No chance of top six this season, more like bottom six. Squad too old, too slow, no pace and the defence needs a complete overhaul just not good enough.
So do you blame Loppy for the fact we have a squad like Dads Army? If you are suggesting that I would say you are wrong and need to look at Moysie to blame for that
Signing a 31 year old and a 30 year old doesn’t help with Dad’s army and zero pace between them…
So our current situation is not Moyes fault at all then. Interesting
We have the seventh largest revenue. There is no reason why we shouldn’t be aiming at finishes in line with that.
Not now we have PSR that locks clubs ability to spend to their revenue.
We need to be qualifying for Europe regularly as that keeps the revenue up.
all this “top 6” pr “CL” talk is making me cringe a little, and it’s a tad embarrassing. other clubs’ fans are gonna have a field day with us of we finish bottom half. we clearly don’t have a full squad yet and what we do have come game time will hopefully get us near or just into Europe again. my guess is we’ll have slow start and then come into the season as the team develops a relationship. i am optimistic but might remind you all who we are 😉
COYI ⚒
As in life, ” Hope for the best, Plan for the worst, and Take what comes”..