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West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini comments on struggling goalkeeper Roberto
West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini has admitted that struggling goalkeeper Roberto needs to try improve, but has pleaded with supporters to try get behind him.
The 33-year-old has become the public enemy number one with some Hammers fans in recent weeks and he’s received some booing at the London Stadium.
He’s had the difficult task of replacing injured shot-stopper Lukasz Fabianski and it’s not gone to plan.
Roberto has started the last six consecutive Premier League games since Fabianski’s injury and the team have just one point in that time.
The Spaniard has conceded 14 goals in those six matches and he’s made a number of individual errors that have seen fans give up on him.
Pellegrini has understandably tried to show some support for his number two goalkeeper and admits he needs to try get better.
“Of course it’s not a comfortable position,” Pellegrini responded when asked if jeering from supporters has impacted Roberto’s confidence, as quoted by
“He knows exactly about his performance, he has a career behind him, he has been a very good player in big teams so of course he cannot be happy in the moment but it is what has happened and he must try to improve.
“I understand after the result there can be some boos because everyone is not happy but we need the fans behind the 11 players more than ever.”
TBR’s View:
West Ham travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea at the weekend in the league and it could be a disaster if Roberto starts.
He’s been given so many opportunities in recent weeks to redeem himself and ultimately he just doesn’t look cut out for the job.
Pellegrini’s team are at a real low point in their season and are facing a Chelsea team next that can score goals for fun if they hit top form.
Some of the criticism of Roberto has been harsh from fans, but they have seen their team slip from potential European candidates to potential relegation candidates quite quickly.
Third-choice option David Martin should replace Roberto in goal and it would be smart to pull him out of the firing line.