West Ham in dressing room rift as senior stars question teammates’ desire in horror run set to cost Pellegrini his job
WEST HAM have been hit by a dressing room split ahead of the game Manuel Pellegrini needs to win to save his job.
Pellegrini is facing the axe if the Hammers crash to defeat at Southampton on Saturday as his side tumble further into relegation trouble.
The Chilean’s tactics have left players stumped as they are left feeling as though there is no clear way they are being asked to play.
And SunSport understands there is also now a division within the squad with established stars wondering if some of their team-mates really care enough about the club’s plight.
Record signing Sebastien Haller is upset with being saddled with the blame for a miserable run of form which has seen him fail to score in over two months.
The £45million striker believes he has been made the scapegoat for his disappointing goal return claiming the team have not been doing enough to provide quality service and play to his strengths.
But others among the squad have been left underwhelmed by his impact since his move from Eintracht Frankfurt, thinking he is a poor relation compared to Marko Arnautovic – the player he was supposed to replace.
SLOW TO ADAPT
Fingers are now being pointed by some who believe others are less worried about the club’s plight, with West Ham winning just once in the last 11 matches.
Many of the problems between the group have stemmed by what they believe is a lack of clear direction from beleaguered boss Pellegrini.
The 66-year-old has been slow to adapt from his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation even when it was clear it was not working, choosing to swap personnel instead of his tactics.
Even when he has changed in the past couple of games, the players have still been left unsure as to the roles they are being asked to carry out.
And the squad were left miffed by Pellegrini maintaining faith in bungling back-up keeper Roberto even when it was obvious he was a disaster waiting to happen in goal.
ACCA WITH LADBROKES Pick up a whole load of acca features to help you land the big one
Roberto’s signing on a free transfer has also brought the role of director of football Mario Husillos into question within the squad and also the boardroom.
Husillos used his links with former club Malaga to sign the keeper, with £21m midfielder Pablo Fornals another he knew from his time with the Spanish club.
There are now serious doubts over the Argentine’s future given he was responsible for bringing in that duo and the misfiring Haller.
A worrying lack of pace in the squad has been obvious for two years but Husillos has failed to address that, and the board are losing confidence in the players he recommends.
The strife behind the scenes leaves the Hammers in a mess going into Saturday's trip to St Mary's.
most read in football
Co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan have no wanted to sack Pellegrini but know they cannot let the slump go on much longer with the club's top flight status under threat.
West Ham are without a game the following week because opponents Liverpool are away on Club World Cup duty - and that break is seen as an obvious opportunity to bring someone new in and give them time to bed in and work on the training ground.
Former boss David Moyes and ex-Brighton manager Chris Hughton have been sounded out, although both would want the role longer than an interim period until the end of the season.