This archive report was first published on 13 December 2019.
West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini is under intense pressure to deliver a win against Southampton on Saturday, or risk losing his job.
With the London club sitting 16th in the Premier League table on 16 points, just a point above Southampton, who occupy 18th spot and are in the relegation zone, Pellegrini knows that a defeat could be his last in charge.
According to bookmakers, Pellegrini is the odds-on favourite to be the next Premier League boss to leave, ahead of Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuettl.
Speaking at a pre-match news conference, Pellegrini said, "What I really need is to win the game but maybe I’m not in my job on Monday." He added, "Having just five points from this many games is not good enough."
British media had reported that Pellegrini, 66, was on the verge of being sacked after West Ham lost 3-1 at home to London rivals Arsenal on Monday.
"I said from the beginning that I came here to … try to play another way than West Ham played in all the other seasons and not for just fighting relegation," Pellegrini said.
"It is not my goal. And if I am not in that position, of course I’m not happy," he added.
