West Ham were hammered by Manchester United on Sunday.
West Ham’s Premier League campaign got off to an awful start as they were beaten 4-0 by Manchester United.
Slaven Bilic’s side went in 1-0 down at half-time before capitulating late on, with United scoring two goals in the last 10 minutes.
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville told SkySports that the Hammers’ late efforts were summed up by new signing Pablo Zabaleta, suggesting his fitness was found wanting.
Speaking to SkySports’ post-match coverage, Neville said that the Argentine looked beyond tired at the end.
He said: “Zabaleta epitomised it for West Ham at the end.
“He was on his last legs.”
Zabaleta was a summer signing from Manchester City on a free transfer. Last season he played his second fewest number of games in his nine year spell at the club, with just 19 appearances, and 13 the years before.
The full-back admitted this week that he felt he does not have long left at the top, having signed just a two-year dear in east London.
He told The Times: “I know probably I am towards the end of my career and I can’t say that I will play for another five or six years.
“It depends on how I feel in the next few years. The Premier League is very demanding for physical intensity. I am anxious I can give 100 per cent. I am not thinking long term.”
Zabaleta will know already that he has to step it up if he is to keep his place in the West Ham side this season, let alone next.
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