Manuel Pellegrini believes London Stadium can be a fortress for West Ham as he prepares for his first home game as manager.
Pellegrini’s Hammers welcome AFC Bournemouth to east London on Saturday afternoon, when they will be roared on by the vast majority of a capacity 57,000 crowd.
The Chilean, who gave the London Stadium facilities his personal seal of approval before taking his squad for a training session on the pitch on Friday, believes the arena is a fitting home for a club as ambitious as the one he joined in May.
“It’s what we want [to make London Stadium a positive place for supporters to be this season],” he confirmed. “I went to the stadium [earlier this week] and I was very impressed about the quality of all the areas at the stadium; the changing rooms, the lunch room, the pitch and the capacity.
“It’s a stadium for a big team and West Ham is a big team.
“I was also very impressed when this team changed [in 2016] from the Boleyn Ground, which was a great stadium with a lot of atmosphere inside it, but for 30,000 people. London Stadium has 57,000 so that’s 27,000 more fans who are able to see the game.
“The atmosphere with 57,000 people is great so I don’t think the stadium or the pitch is an excuse this season. I have nothing to complain about at the stadium.
“It’s our home stadium and it is the stadium this club needs and this club deserves.”
It’s a stadium for a big team and West Ham is a big team
Manuel Pellegrini
Pellegrini was asked in his pre-match press conference if he has any concerns about managing at London Stadium.
“I don’t know why a stadium should be difficult. The pitch has all the same measurements as other pitches and the grass is in very good shape.
“When a season is finished, it’s finished. All the feelings, positive or negative, must finish at the end of the season and now we have a new season.”