New signing Pablo Zabaleta believes West Ham need to show-off their strong winning mentality next season.
West Ham endured a miserable campaign during the 2016-17 Premier League season, falling well-below expectation with an 11th-place finish.
They had finished seventh and qualified for the Europa League a year earlier, but struggled to build upon their fine work last term, and Zabaleta has urged his new side to show a ‘strong, winning mentality’.
The 32-year-old was confirmed on Friday as the club’s first summer signing, and he is set to arrive on a free transfer from Manchester City on July 1.
Following the official announcement, Zabaleta insisted he is determined to help transform the club’s mentality into one of winners.
He told the club’s official website: “It’s time for this football club to have that strong, winning mentality to believe that you can achieve important things.
“With domestic competitions, of course the Premier League is hard, but the FA Cup and EFL Cup are about seven games, you need to perform well and it’s only game at a time, and that’s the right and winning mentality you need to achieve.
“This is something that I personally, from my point of view, think West Ham need to believe. As players, we can give the fans something to really enjoy.”
Zabaleta’s imminent move brings to an end a nine-year association with Manchester City, where he made 332 appearances in all competitions.
He won two Premier League titles during his time at the Etihad, as well as two League Cups and one FA Cup, and the Argentina international wants to bring similar success to the London Stadium.
West Ham, meanwhile, have not won a major trophy since 1980, when they were crowned champions of the Second Division.
Their appearance in the 2006 FA Cup Final has been the closest they have come to ending their trophy drought, but they lost to Liverpool on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw.