REACTION // PELLEGRINI SATISFIED WITH POINT AND CLEAN SHEET AGAINST CHELSEA

By Danny Mcinally

After a disciplined display in the 0-0 draw to Chelsea yesterday, Manuel Pellegrini felt his side were unlucky not to get all three points but emphasised the importance of not losing if you can’t get the win. 

Both sides threatened to take the lead, but the game was played out to a stalemate. Substitute Alvaro Morata had the best chance for the visitors, but his shot was saved brilliantly by the face of Lukasz Fabianski.  However, the home side had arguably the best chance as Andriy Yarmonlenko headed a chance wide from 5 yards out.

“When you have such clear chances against big teams, you must score them. We had three clear chances before they made one, but you must score,” the West Ham manager said. 

“Maybe the goals that seem the easiest are actually the most difficult because you’re relaxing, but it is always difficult to score.” 

Pellegrini was pleased with his sides defensive efforts as they kept their first clean sheet of the season. 

“Well first of all the first clean sheet demonstrates that the team is doing well, also against a team that has scored fourteen goals in their previous 5 games, so in that sense I am happy” 

After another impressive performance, Pellegrini wasn’t surprised that Declan Rice was drawing plaudits. 

“Was I Impressed? No, because I see Declan work every day of the week. He has a lot of intensity. He is very young and learning a lot about positional play.” 

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri was surprised by West Hams start of the season claiming they were a very good team.

 “I knew that West Ham were a very good team, so I don’t know how they lost their first 4 matches in the league,” he added.

“Maybe now in confidence after they won away at Everton and so maybe we could have done better but it is impossible to win every match, so 1 point is okay.”