Zabaleta: Our home form will be vital this season

Pablo Zabaleta

 

Pablo Zabaleta knows just how important home form can be when it comes to enjoying a successful season.

The full-back was part of the Manchester City sides which won the Premier League title in both 2012 and 2014, losing a grand total of one home match out of 38 in the process.

While Zabaleta is experienced to know West Ham United will do well to emulate the Citizens’ achievements, he knows the Hammers’ London Stadium results will need to good if they are to climb away from the foot of the table.

“Winning your home matches is always very important,” said the No5, who was not on the pitch for a single home defeat all last season. “The points you collect at your own stadium will go a long way to showing how well you do in a season.

“When we won the title twice with Manchester City, both times our home form was the reason we won the Premier League. We won 18 out of 19 home games in 2012, and lost just once in 2014.

“Obviously, we are not going to match those records, but we do need to win more home games than we did last season if we are to achieve our targets this year.”

We are all looking forward to playing in front of our supporters for the first time at home, of course

Pablo Zabaleta

The Argentinian will make his first home appearance in Claret and Blue on Monday evening – he appeared in Stratford for Manchester City last season – and has urged West Ham fans to get right behind Slaven Bilic’s side when they take on Huddersfield Town.

The newly-promoted Terriers have taken seven points from a possible nine and are yet to concede a goal, results and form that are in stark contrast to the Hammers’ own opening efforts.

For those reasons, Zabaleta has called for unity and vociferous support before and during Monday's game.

“We are all looking forward to playing in front of our supporters for the first time at home, of course. We will have more than 50,000 fans cheering us on and they will give us a massive boost when we walk on to the pitch before kick-off.

“We have had great support at our away matches, but on Monday we will be at London Stadium, on our turf, and we need to use our home advantage to get the victory we need.

“I played at London Stadium last season for Manchester City and I know it is a fantastic arena. The atmosphere and sound created by the fans are really loud and I can tell you that the players really feel it on the pitch.”

*West Ham United host Huddersfield Town at London Stadium on Monday 11 September at 8pm. Standard Tickets are available now via the Ticket Exchange.