My players must possess the desire to improve - Pellegrini

Manuel Pellegrini

 

Manuel Pellegrini says his players need to possess their own motivation to reach the top of the game, rather than being inspired by the achievements of others.

The West Ham United manager was asked if the fact for English clubs have reached this season’s two European finals would spur on his own squad, but he dismissed the suggestion, instead claiming players should possess ingrained ‘desire to improve’.

Pellegrini has spoken regularly about the need for his players to possess a ‘big team’ mentality and he did so again when speaking to the media ahead of West Ham’s final game of the season at Watford on Sunday.

“You don’t need to see England has four teams in the finals of the European cups to have the desire to be a player who wants to improve and play at as high a level as you can,” said Pellegrini.

“Here in England we have six very big teams and once Leicester did it (won the Premier League title in 2016), so as a player you must always have that winning mentality and desire to improve.

“That big mentality is not from one day to another one. There are a lot of things behind that mentality that represent why those teams and players are always trying to win. We must do the same, starting with having 60,000 people behind us.

“[How quickly we can get to that level] depends on our performance in each game. You must demonstrate you are improving every week.”

You don’t need to see England has four teams in the finals of the European cups to have the desire to be a player who wants to improve and play at as high a level as you can

Manuel Pellegrini

Pellegrini also dismissed any suggestion that geography was playing any part in the success of certain clubs this season.

“There are three London clubs in the finals and it is strange that there are no Manchester clubs in there this year,” he continued.

“It doesn’t matter if they are from London, though, because as a player you must always try to play at the highest level.

“The north part of the country also has very big teams. Maybe they are not involved in the final this year, but Manchester City will be champions two years in a row, so I think we have big teams in every part of the country.”