Manuel Pellegrini admits Felipe Anderson must do more, reveals record signing is disappointed with performances

West Ham United via Getty Images
Jack Rosser @JackRosser_2 November 2018

Manuel Pellegrini has called on club record signing Felipe Anderson to improve his performances, admitting even the Brazilian knows he can improve.

Anderson, who arrived for a fee of £42million from Lazio over the summer - almost double the then transfer record, put in another poor show in the League Cup defeat to Tottenham on Wednesday.

Having been hauled off in their League meeting after just 57 minutes 11 days prior, he was taken off at the break in the week, though Pellegrini insisted that was planned.

The 25-year-old has, so far, been playing in his preferred role on the left wing, though Pellegrini feels he is better deployed in the No.10.

Ahead of this weekend's clash with Burnley, though, the West Ham manager knows his star man can provide more.

"In a way, I am not happy," Pellegrini said.

"I think Felipe is not happy, I think everyone is not happy. He has demonstrated he can do more.

"He has good moments in games, bad moments as well but he is not the first player who will need some time to adapt to the Premier League.

"What I don't have any doubt about Felipe is his commitment to the team, his performances he knows he must improve but he is giving his best. I trust him a lot and he is a player that can make mistakes but give you different things also."

With a number of high profile injuries already this season, there remains concern over Marko Arnautovic's persistent knee issue.

However, having been rested for the trip to Leicester and playing just over half an hour on Wednesday, Pellgrini is confident the Austrian's fitness is improving and that he will not require surgery.

"In this moment we are managing with the medical staff to try and give him a little bit more rest after the game," Pellegrini said.

"Last week he worked just one day, with his knee and then with the virus, so it was not good for him to play Wednesday really.

"I was just talking with him and his knee is improving a little bit every week."

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