OPINION
West Ham United did about as well as anyone could have expected against Manchester City on Saturday, eventually falling to a 4-0 defeat against the champions.
Manuel Pellegrini set his side up to attack Pep Guardiola’s men and it didn’t quite work out as David Silva, Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane all got on the scoresheet within the first 35 minutes at the London Stadium, before Sane grabbed another in stoppage time.
Ultimately matches against the likes of City aren’t going to define a team like West Ham’s season, and Pellegrini’s charges will simply have to pick themselves up after this encounter and go again against Newcastle United in a week’s time.
As usual there is plenty that can be gleaned from the game, and This is Futbol has rounded up three things to be learned from the Hammers’ loss to City on Saturday.
Pellegrini’s gamble backfires
Credit to the Chilean for trying to go for it against City with a bold team selection and tactical approach, but it simply didn’t work out on the day. The champions were too good and too slick for West Ham even on their best day.
Arthur Masuaku was indicative of the Hammers boss’ tactical gamble. He went for the more attack-minded of his two left backs and it backfired spectacularly as the 25-year-old was torched for two of City’s goals.
Hopefully this will be a lesson learned for Pellegrini that when he’s up against the big boys he needs to rein it in a little bit because his team aren’t good enough to go toe to toe with them just yet.
Masuaku’s struggles continue
As alluded to earlier Pellegrini’s decision to start with Masuaku at the back was a mistake, something that the Chilean admitted to himself by bringing off the DR Congo international for Aaron Cresswell at half time.
The left back endured a torrid afternoon at the London Stadium as he was put through the wringer by Sterling. The England star never gave Masuaku a moment’s rest and ensured it was an afternoon to forget for the West Ham defender.
It is time for Masuaku, who is on a reported £40,000-per-week at the club [Source: Spotrac], to be given the boot in January. He is simply not good enough for the Hammers and he is costing the team points on a weekly basis.
Arnautovic a worry for West Ham
The Marko Arnautovic situation is now very worrying for West Ham. First there was the interview that his brother and agent Daniel held with the Austrian publication Kurier this week suggesting he wants to leave the club, and then there was his body language on Saturday.
The 29-year-old tried hard for his team against the champions, but he looked visibly aggravated towards the end of the game.
He had to receive treatment late on but carried on playing, however when he eventually went off minutes later he went straight down the tunnel rather than remaining with his team mates and manager. Not good at all.