West Ham manager, Manuel Pellegrini has stated that England midfielder Jack Wilshere reminds him of Andrea Pirlo.
The West Ham manager was speaking at a press conference ahead of the London derby clash with Arsenal
The Hammers are without a win in two games after suffering defeats against Liverpool and Bournemouth and they would be hoping to take points off an Arsenal team who also find themselves in a similar situation having not won in two games themselves.
Ahead of the visit to the Emirates, Pellegrini talked up Jack Wilshere’s qualities: “A lot of you will remember Juventus around four or five years ago, they played with one holding midfielder. It was Pirlo,
“And Pirlo is the same as Jack. He has the same characteristics as Jack.”
The English midfielder left Arsenal in the summer after a relationship that lasted since childhood came to an end.
Pellegrini also dismissed claims by former England manager Sam Allardyce that Wilshere and midfield partner Mark Noble were too slow to play together.
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“That is his opinion. I know him and I respect him, and everyone has his opinion.
“I think that Jack Wilshere must play as Jack Wilshere. He is not a defensive midfielder to hold the line. He is a midfielder more comfortable when he comes out from our side and not receiving the ball back from the other goal.
“You must leave him to play alone, the play the moment, to receive the ball because he is going to make things happen.”
Pellegrini added: “I think everyone praised Jack Wilshere not just for one game because if he could play in a normal shape without injury, he was always a player who makes a difference because he is a different player.
“I am sure [we will see that Wilshere again] because he is just 26 years old. Because he knows better how he must manage his physical work, so as not to be injured. This season we are working with him from July 1, 40 to 50 days, and he’s not having any problems.
“He just has to recover his trust in what he can do. Maybe his career was not all his top [form], because he had a lot of injuries. So I think at this moment we must give him trust, let him play, because I repeat what I said: He is a different player and he will do it.”
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