Pellegrini: We must beat teams like Villa

  • by Staff Writer
  • Friday, 13th September 2019

Manuel Pellegrini has told his squad that they need to return from Villa Park with all three points on Monday night if they are to fulfil their promise.

West Ham visit the newly-promoted side three days from now in search of a third successive away victory, having previously secured wins at Newport and Watford.

And the boss insisted that his team must improve this year against the teams challenging the Hammers for a European spot - one of which, he says, are Dean Smith's side.

Embed from Getty Images


"We need to beat teams like Aston Villa, because last season there were a lot of teams around us that we lost to," he said during Friday's pre-matc press conference.

"Now we will see what happens this season, and Villa are a difficult team. Their stadium is very important for them, but we go there as we do in all the other games, to try to win.

"Villa have had some different results, bought a lot of good players and play an attacking style. I think that they are doing well.

"They must adapt to the Premier League still but they have a very good team and a manager in Dean Smith, who wants to play in an attacking way."

Barring the opening day thrashing at home to Manchester City, West Ham have enjoyed a good start to the 2019/20 campaign with three wins and a draw from their remaining four matches.

And Pellegrini maintained that was due to his squad having more "trust" in each other and a better understanding of his "mentality".

Embed from Getty Images


"In the way that we are working right now the players are having more trust in what they must do in every game," he added. "Football can be so quick to change though, that you must understand it is not just a matter of trust.

"It is to play as a team, eleven players defending and then with the ball, eleven players making movements. When you have that trust, you have a positive mentality in your players.

"But we are just starting [this season] and I think that we must treat every game like a final."

* Something to say about this story? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.



More News