West Ham United defender Pablo Zabaleta has fallen behind Ryan Fredericks in the pecking order for places at the London Stadium.
Zabaleta signed a new contract, worth £75,000-a-week (Spotrac), at West Ham at the end of last season, as Pellegrini wanting to keep the right-back around.
But the Argentine realises that he is past his best now.
And Zabaleta admits that he struggles when given chances to start in the Premier League.
“It’s definitely the best league in the world and I’ve been enjoying my time in England, playing in this league, but honestly I’m not getting any younger and the pace and the intensity of the game are getting really high every year and it’s getting difficult,” he said.
“I just need to enjoy myself. I’ve been at West Ham for two years and it’s such a great club with so many nice people working here, and in football you have to enjoy every single moment.”
Zabaleta has been kept at West Ham mainly for his leadership qualities in the dressing room.
The former Manchester City man is no longer a starter for Pellegrini’s side, with Ryan Fredericks taking his place.
Fredericks is much quicker than Zabaleta ever was, and certainly has no such issues coping with the pace of the league.
West Ham are next in action at the weekend, when they take on Watford.
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