When writing a column for Sky Sports, Paul Merson suggested that Manuel Pellegrini is very lucky that his West Ham side scored two late goals against Tottenham on Saturday, otherwise he could have been out of a job.
The Hammers are in the midst of a woeful run of form. They have drawn two and lost five of their last seven league games. And they now sit in 17th spot in the Premier League table.
West Ham’s fall from grace has been as alarming as it has been spectacular.
And Pellegrini is hanging on by his fingernails.
Merson claimed that it could have been curtains for the Chilean, had the game on Saturday ended up 4-0 or 5-0, when writing his column for Sky Sports:
“Pellegrini is quite fortunate with the two goals West Ham scored at the end against Tottenham, because if that had ended 4-0 or 5-0, I don’t see how he could have stayed on. It’s very easy to play when you’re losing, the shackles are off. You’ve got to be playing at 0-0.”
Things don’t get any easier for the Hammers.
Next up is back-to-back games against Chelsea and Wolves respectively. They then play host to Arsenal.
If West Ham fail to get at least three points from those outings, Pellegrini could easily be given his marching orders.
And Merson makes a great point. A heavy defeat in any of those games could spell the end of Pellegrini’s tenure at the London Stadium.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
