Jack Wilshere is determined to repay Manuel Pellegrini’s faith in him and become an ‘important player’ in the Chilean’s West Ham United side.
The England midfielder has enjoyed his first week-and-a-half of work under Pellegrini, feeling the benefit of intense training sessions and feeling fitter and fitter with each day that passes.
The 26-year-old also praised Pellegrini’s man-management skills, likening him to the man who moulded his career at former club Arsenal, Arsene Wenger.
“They are both calm and first and foremost they are good people,” he observed. “In the morning they see how we are and how we’re feeling then, when we’re on the training pitch, it’s down to us to work.
“[Manuel] is really hands-on on the pitch. He’s trying to change things as obviously we’re still getting used to him and he’s getting used to us.
“The training has been quite intense, but it’s what we need and what I need, especially, after a long time off. I’ve only been back for ten days, so I’m feeling fitter and fitter each day.”
He made it clear that he sees me as an important player and it’s down to me to perform in training and perform week-in, week-out to stay in the team
Jack Wilshere
Wilshere is eager to show his best form in whatever position the manager deploys him, whether that be sitting in front of the defence or in a more advanced role in support of the attack.
“The manager told me the formation he wants to play and the position he wants me to play and that’s one reason why I wanted to be part of it [here at West Ham], because I want to be an important player,” said the new No19. “He made it clear that he sees me as an important player and it’s down to me to perform in training and perform week-in, week-out to stay in the team.
“It all depends on formation, and I don’t want to give our formation away! It’ll be either deeper or as a number ten. I’ve said before that I like playing deeper but, if we change formation, there will be one or two deeper and one or two going forward, and I don’t mind sitting deeper or going forward.
“I’m excited for the start of the season to see what we can achieve this year.”
Wilshere may have been a West Ham player for just ten days, but he is already excited by the prospect of what Pellegrini’s methods may lead to in 2018/19.
The South American is known for playing on the front foot, with his teams historically pressing high, playing their football in the opposition half and both creating and converting plenty of goalscoring opportunities.
“I’m excited with the manager,” Wilshere confirmed. “As soon as I spoke to the manager, before I signed, it was clear I wanted to be part of this.
“He’s the sort of manager who wants to play football and play out from midfield, press high and win the ball and you saw with his Man City team what he could do.
“I’m not saying we’re going to win the league but if we can aim to play football, press and win the ball back high up the pitch then we’ll be all right this year.”