---
title: "Pellegrini confirms Cardoso needs time before first-team break – is it the right call?"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2019/08/27/pellegrini-confirms-cardoso-needs-time-before-first-team-break-is-it-the-right-call/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Turk"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2019-08-27T08:00:07Z"
modified: "2019-08-27T08:00:07Z"
---

# Pellegrini confirms Cardoso needs time before first-team break – is it the right call?

Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed that summer signing Goncalo Cardoso isn’t yet ready to break into the first team, amid calls that he should be awarded a start at Newport County on Tuesday night.

Pellegrini is currently opting for Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna as his first-choice centre-backs so with Fabian Balbuena also needing minutes, it was always unlikely Cardoso would feature.

However, the Chilean manager has revealed he doesn’t believe the 18-year-old is quite ready to break into first-team football yet, telling [football.london](https://www.football.london/west-ham-united-fc/players/manuel-pellegrini-confirms-summer-signing-16813135):

> Goncalo is a young player who maybe needs some more time.

### READ WEST HAM’S VERDICT

Obviously, it goes without saying that Manuel Pellegrini knows his players on another level compared to us observers.

If Cardoso isn’t ready for first-team football, then he isn’t ready. Although I agree that he shouldn’t face Newport if he’s not ready, but West Ham must use him in the U23s if that’s the case.

The young defender isn’t going to adapt to English football at a good pace if he’s watching the team play from home – he needs to get involved.

It seems like the Hammers have three established centre-backs in Issa Diop, Angelo Ogbonna and Fabian Balbuena fighting for a starting spot, so it wouldn’t be surprising to have to wait longer for Cardoso’s debut.