Pablo Zabaleta says the support West Ham fans show for the Irons makes him proud to represent the team.
Speaking at the end of a five-day training camp in Miami, the Argentinian full-back was full of praise for the loyal Claret and Blue Army, revealing he is still captivated by the backing the supporters give to the players.
“I’ve been saying for a few months since being at this club, I’ve seen the fans be incredible,” Zabaleta told whufc.com. “Even away from home, I’ve seen the fans travelling everywhere, giving great support to the team. At home, at London Stadium, in front of 60,000 people, it’s incredible. It shows the potential of the Club in terms of how many fans West Ham have got.
I've been saying for a few months since being at this club, I've seen the fans be incredible...I feel proud to play for our fans.
Pablo Zabaleta
“Us as players, and personally from my point of view, I feel proud to play with our fans. Sometimes that passion is what we really need to know, the players, to give them something back by winning games.
“It’s been a difficult season in terms of injuries and many things that sometimes have affected the team. To the fans all we can say is thanks for the great support they show week in and week out because they are amazing.”
Zabaleta joined the Hammers last summer from Manchester City and, with the defender closing in on the end of his first season at the east London Club, the 33-year-old took the opportunity to pay tribute to the West Ham supporters.
With defeats in the last three games, Zabaleta can understand that supporters want to see more from the team and has called on everyone involved with West Ham to be united ahead of the next contest, at home to Southampton.
He continued: “Hopefully we can perform well enough to keep West Ham in the Premier League. We will try. We know we have to do better than we have done in the last three games.
“I do really understand sometimes the frustration of the fans when things don’t go like everyone expects, but I think those tough periods, we all need to be together. It’s the only reason to go forward, to be united. Us as players, we know we have to do better on the field.”