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Manuel Pellegrini urges fans to stop booing Marko Arnautovic

Pellegrini urges fans to stop booing Arnautovic
© Reuters
The 29-year-old has not scored in eight appearances.

Manuel Pellegrini has urged West Ham's disgruntled fans to lay off Marko Arnautovic.

The Austrian forward's form has slumped since he tried to engineer a move to China in January.

Arnautovic was handed a new contract to keep him happy, but his relationship with the Hammers supporters has turned sour.

The 29-year-old, who has not scored in eight appearances, was booed off as he was substituted during West Ham's last two matches.

Frustrated Arnautovic even appeared to swear at a fan behind the dug-out after he was replaced during the 2-0 defeat against Everton last weekend.

Arnautovic is still tipped to leave the club in the summer, but Pellegrini insists he remains committed to the cause.

"I don't think anybody can be happy," said the Hammers boss.

"The fans are not happy, me, Marko is not happy, but this happens to some players in a moment of the season when they are not in their best moment. Maybe they need the support more than to punish them.

"Talking with Marko, he wants to do things better. He is absolutely involved with our team, what happened with China is now over and finished.

"If anyone thinks that Marko doesn't want to be here at West Ham, they are wrong. Marko is absolutely involved mentally and physically.

"I repeat, he is not in a good moment but, supporting him, he will return to what he demonstrated some months ago.

"A lot of players at parts of the season have bad performances. It is not easy maybe to know that you don't have the support of the fans that he had six months ago. But with his work and a positive mentality he will return."

Pellegrini branded the Everton defeat West Ham's worst performance of the season, dealing their hopes of finishing seventh, and a potential Europa League place, a major blow.

Pellegrini is looking for a reaction when they head to Chelsea on Monday night.

"Nobody was happy after the game," he added. "But we will try to finish this season as high as we can in the table. We are trying to involve all the players in that mentality."


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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool33257175205582
2Manchester CityMan City32262483216280
3Chelsea33206757342366
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs322111060342664
5Arsenal32196765402563
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd32187761431861
7Leicester CityLeicester33145144644247
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32138114039147
9Everton33137134642446
10Watford32137124747046
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham33126154150-942
12Crystal Palace33116163943-439
13Bournemouth33115174461-1738
14Burnley33106174060-2036
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3398163143-1235
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3196163246-1433
17Southampton3289153653-1733
18Cardiff CityCardiff3284202861-3328
RFulham3345243076-4617
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3335251963-4414

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