West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini has urged Hammers playmaker Manuel Lanzini to go ‘one step more’.
The Argentine international has made a terrific start to the season, with only Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne having created more chances than him at this stage of the campaign.
Pellegrini has now sent him a message: “Manu returned from his long injury with a lot of trust, he did not have any fear,” he said at his pre match press conference, as per Football London. “He aways wants the ball and to do different things and in every game, he will keep improving.
“He went a long time without playing and he still needs time to get back to his best performance. I think he can go one step more.”
OPINION
The thought of Lanzini going ‘one step more’ must be a frightening one for Premier League defenders. The 26-year-old has been utterly fantastic to start the new season, creating chances at will and generally proving a massive nuisance for the opposition. When you consider how well he’s been playing, how unplayable Felipe Anderson was at times against Norwich City and the lightning-fast adaptation to English football of club record signing Sebastien Haller; there is a lot to get excited about with this Hammers side. Lanzini is key to the team, though. He pulls the strings in midfield, linking Declan Rice and Mark Noble’s fine work in the middle of the park with the tremendous attacking talent the Irons have further forward. If the little South American plays anywhere near how he has so far this term against newly promoted Aston Villa on Monday night, then Pellegrini’s team should be in for a good day at the office.
