---
title: "Manuel Pellegrini: ‘Do not fear playing at the London Stadium’"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2018/08/18/manuel-pellegrini-do-not-not-fear-playing-at-the-london-stadium/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2018-08-18T10:54:17Z"
modified: "2018-08-18T10:55:08Z"
---

# Manuel Pellegrini: ‘Do not fear playing at the London Stadium’

Ahead of his first home game in charge of West Ham, Manuel Pellegrini has urged his squad not to fear playing at the London Stadium, [the Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/aug/17/west-ham-no-fear-london-stadium-pellegrini) report.

The Hammers haven’t enjoyed playing at their new stadium as much as they’d have liked, winning just 18 home games in the last two seasons since their move from Upton Park under David Moyes and Slaven Bilic.

![Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readwestham.com/readwestham/2018/08/627404748.jpg)

The club are also expecting to receive a fine from the Football Association following crowd trouble during a home game against Burnley last season which saw multiple fans invade the pitch during the match.

However, ahead of the game against Bournemouth, Pellegrini admitted he doesn’t see why playing at home has to be difficult and doesn’t want it to be an excuse.

> I don’t know why this stadium has to be difficult. I don’t see any reason why it has to be difficult.

> The pitch has the same measurements. The grass is in very good shape. The atmosphere with 55,000 people is great. The stadium is not an excuse.

Pellegrini, who has won the Premier League while in charge with Manchester City, even inspected the London Stadium’s facilities on Wednesday and held first-team training there on Friday ahead of his first home game in charge.