West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini insists there are ‘no issues’ between him and Lucas Perez after the forward reportedly refused to warm up during the 3-1 victory over Everton.
According to The Daily Mirror, television footage appeared to show the Spaniard reject the opportunity to be introduced at Goodison Park, as the Hammers picked up their first points of the season.
When Arnautovic was injured, I called him because he was making his warm-up, but when he was back sitting on the bench and Antonio was working I called him because he was ready. I don’t have any problem with the player.
Perez has made two appearances since his permanent transfer away from Arsenal, but has made little impact for the Irons, who lost their first four league matches.
West Ham’s display at Everton is sure to provide the club’s supporters with plenty of encouragement and relief, with the team having struggled to convince in the opening stages of the campaign.
The Hammers had fallen to defeats against Liverpool, Bournemouth, Arsenal and Wolves before they defeated Everton.
A brace from Andriy Yarmolenko and a goal from Marko Arnautovic cancelled out Gylfi Sigurdsson’s header on the stroke of half-time, as West Ham climbed out of the relegation zone.
