Manuel Pellegrini calls for fans to stick with the team as West Ham search for first Premier League win

The West Ham manager said it was difficult for the team when the fans left early during their 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth

Manuel Pellegrini has urged West Ham’s fans to stick with the team after he criticised supporters for leaving last week’s 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth before the final whistle.

“The stadium was empty with 10 minutes to go, we can still score in that time,” he said after the defeat. “They need to believe but if you don't have results it is more difficult for them.”

The new manager has attempted to clarify his claims and win back the fans, and admits he understands why supporters might leave a game early.

Pellegrini has called for more backing from the fans (Getty)

“I perfectly understand if you are losing 4-1 or 5-1 and you have got five minutes till the game finishes, maybe you leave early to your house. But losing 2-1...?

“At this moment the players need everybody together, the fans, the team, the manager, the owners, everybody. Maybe the fans had a reason, but I just wanted to clarify how important the fans are for the result of the games.”

West Ham were heavily beaten by Liverpool in their opening Premier League fixture and let a lead slip against Bournemouth in their first home game of the season, which prompted some fans to show the signs of discontent that have plagued their two seasons at the London Stadium.

In addition to the performances on the pitch, West Ham are also unhappy with the club’s landlords and are locked in a dispute with E20, the company set up to run the stadium, over the colour of the pitch surround, big screen maintenance and a missing honours list.

Pellegrini, not wishing to get drawn to the issue, said it’s time for West Ham to start focusing all their attention to on-field matters. “What I don’t want to have is an excuse because we have some problem with the colour of the track, we need to have the solution on the pitch, not off it,” he said.

“Maybe there are issue being talked about, maybe they can be sorted but I don’t want to link those things.”

West Ham were heavily beaten by Liverpool then let a lead slip against Bournemouth (Getty)

Many of West Ham’s on-field issues have been caused by their curiously high line. Liverpool enjoyed ludicrous amounts of time and space in behind the Hammers’ defence, but Pellegrini has no plans to alter that for the upcoming trip to The Emirates.

“We are not going to change too many things. I don’t think we need to at this moment,” he said despite conceding six goals in two games. “We need to trust one way which we must play and then let the players put in the performance.

“If you review my career, at Villarreal, at Malaga, in Manchester, the first games that I managed were never good games. I remember in Manchester we lost our first three games away. I’m not worried about that, but as soon as we can win it would be better.”

The Chilean manager could be without Mark Noble, who has not been able to train this week due to a back problem, and appears unsure about which is his best team and system.

“You never have a starting 11. It is difficult because you have to play so many games and you must change it.

“You must involve the whole squad and chose the best moment for each game. But after that game you will have another problem and can’t play that team again.”