After his latest comments, has Pablo Zabaleta just admitted a mentality problem at West Ham?
The Hammers have opened up their Premier League campaign with back-to-back defeats. An opening day 4-0 mauling at Liverpool was followed up with a more disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth.
Despite spending over £100m on the squad, Manuel Pellegrini’s men have started the season slowly.
I think, psychologically, we need to change a little bit as a team. I thought we had a good first 45 minutes. We were good, we were intense. But in the second half we didn’t have the same intensity, and we gave them the chance to score goals. We cannot afford to be afraid when we are winning. We need to carry on playing the way we did in the first half.
The comments are likely to have alarm bells ringing in the ears of supporters. Former Premier League winner Zabaleta’s words don’t come across as encouraging as he might’ve implied them to be.
With such a heavy investment in the squad, and confidence sky-high heading into the season, why would the players be afraid when they go on the pitch?
Going ahead in football matches shouldn’t result in fear. Particularly not if you’ve spent what Pellegrini has in his squad.
It’s been undoubtedly a slow start to the season, but fans will believe it’s simply a new team bedding in with each other. Zabaleta has just hinted that it’s something more.
Coming from a talented international veteran with such a decorated history in football, Zabaleta knows what he’s talking about. The right-back has experienced many dressing rooms, and knows how morale and psychology works.
Comments like these just reinforce the idea that the club needs a win. However, the pressure will now be thrown onto the Hammers whenever they take the lead in games.
Arsenal are the next challenge for Pellegrini’s men, and psychological issues shouldn’t be anywhere near them at this stage of the season.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
