Under fire West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini has had crisis talks with the club’s board – and told that results have got to improve.
Pellegrini’s side crashed to a 3-2 defeat at home to Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham on Saturday, their fifth loss in their last seven Premier League games, and they were turfed out of the Carabao Cup by League One Oxford recently.
Chilean Pellegrini is under severe pressure, with tough looking games coming up against Chelsea, Wolves and then Arsenal.
The Hammers, who have not won since September 22, have now dropped to just three points off the relegation places.
Talks took place on Monday between Pellegrini and the club, and it is understood that Pellegrini was warned that results have got to improve.
West Ham do not want to sack Pellegrini, having invested considerable sums in the squad – around £150million – since he was recruited in May 2018.
He has been hit by major injury problems to his squad – in particular to goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, who has been absent with a hip injury.
In his absence deputy keeper Roberto has had a torrid time – but Fabianski is not now expected to be back until the New Year.
The Spaniard is expected to be dropped for the trip to Chelsea on Saturday and third choice David Martin brought in.
Former Brighton manager Chris Hughton, an ex-Hammers player, is top of the list of potential replacements for Pellegrini should West Ham decide to pull the trigger, but Burnley manager Sean Dyche is also being considered.
Asked whether West Ham’s biggest problem is him or the players, Pellegrini said at the weekend after losing to Spurs: “I think that it is both.
“Both are together the manager and the players. Both have the responsibility to make sure the team plays well, to win games, have good results, you cannot separate one from the other.
“We are playing under big pressure. We do not have the results that we want, especially here at home. This is a special game against Tottenham, we wanted to do it better but we couldn’t.
“I think the team didn’t give up, they fought until the end, trying always to draw but we are making too many mistakes without the ball.
“Every time we are making mistakes, they are scoring.”
West Ham are next in action away at Chelsea this Saturday (3pm).