West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini will be preparing for his side’s home clash against Brighton on Wednesday evening.
BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson has hit out at West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini following his comments about the busy festive period.
The Hammers were beaten 2-0 at Burnley on Sunday afternoon and Pellegrini told BBC Sport after the match that ‘the lack of energy’ in his side was down to ‘the quick turnaround in games’.
Ahead of West Ham’s home clash against Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday night, Lawrenson stated that Pellegrini ‘shouldn’t have taken the job’ if he has a ‘problem’ with the scheduling at this time of year.
Like many other teams across England, fixtures have come thick and fast, with Pellegrini’s side playing three matches in eight days, losing two encounters and beating Southampton on the road.
But the Chilean’s comments after their recent encounter hasn’t impressed former Liverpool defender Lawrenson.
“I heard West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini’s comments about the scheduling during the festive period,” Lawrenson told BBC Sport.“If that’s a problem then he shouldn’t have taken the job.
“You know at the start of the season it’s manic at Christmas and New Year. The Chilean wasn’t complaining when his side were on a run of four wins on the bounce.
“This period is why the league is so good. It’s never going to change unless they bring in a winter break.”
Unfortunately for Pellegrini, the fixtures are going to continue to roll in at the start of 2019, both in the league and in the cup competitions.
After their league clash against Chris Hughton’s men on Wednesday, the Irons will host Championship outfit Birmingham City at the weekend in the FA Cup.
It will be their fifth match in 14 days, with teams across the top-tier of English football facing similar scheduling.
West Ham are currently sitting in 11th place, two points off seventh-placed Wolves in the table and 12 points clear of the relegation zone.
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