According to a recent report by the Daily Mirror, West Ham United will consider appointing former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez as their head coach if they decide to sack Manuel Pellegrini this season. Pellegrini is currently under a lot of pressure following his side’s winless run of six matches in the Premier League.
The Hammers have slumped to 16th place in the league table and are in danger of being dragged into a relegation dogfight if they fail to turn things around for the better after the international break.
The Pressure Is Mounting On Pellegrini’s Shoulders
The Chilean manager got the opportunity to rebuild his squad last summer and spent a lot of money in the process. Hence, the East London club’s owners would expect a return of investment this term, so West Ham need to push for a top-six finish in the English top-flight soon.
Pellegrini Vs Benitez: Who Has The Edge?
Since arriving at the London Stadium in the summer of 2018, Pellegrini has taken charge of 57 matches for the Hammers, winning 22, drawing 11 and losing 24 of those games. He is averaging 1.35 points per game during his managerial spell at the English capital (stats via transfermarkt). The Santiago-born coach has won the Premier League once and the League Cup twice with Manchester City, so he knows what it takes to win trophies at the highest level.
Comparatively, Benitez is a vastly experienced manager who has previously lifted the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup once during his time as the Liverpool head coach. He has also survived relegation battles with Newcastle United during his last job in English football. Therefore, the Spaniard might have a slight edge over Pellegrini in terms of managerial bragging rights.
Stylistically, the Chilean manager plays an attractive brand of football while Benitez is more accustomed to playing tactical, possession-based football. However, the West Ham supporters might not care too much about their team’s playing style, as long as they can start getting some favourable results on the pitch.
Will Benitez Be A Good Choice For The East London Club?
There is no denying that Benitez will be an excellent choice to succeed Pellegrini if West Ham end up parting ways with their current manager in the coming weeks. The Spanish coach has the proven track record required to bring success to the London Stadium if he decides to become the Hammers boss someday.
