Manuel Pellegrini says the return to full fitness of Andriy Yarmolenko and Manuel Lanzini has given his West Ham United team a huge boost.
Yarmolenko returned after ten months out with an Achilles injury to score his first goal of the season in the 2-0 win over Norwich City a fortnight ago, while Lanzini has looked sharp after overcoming the knee problem that ruled him out for the majority of last season.
And Pellegrini says his side’s attacking options are much wider with the Ukraine forward and Argentina playmaker on the pitch as he prepares for Monday’s Premier League fixture at Aston Villa.
“Yes, of course [they make a difference], because they are different players,” he said. “With technical players, you can work a lot in a tactical way but finally what decides games is the technical players; the strikers who score a goal, the midfielders who create options for the forwards. So, having those players back and 100 per cent of course makes a difference.
“Last season we had too many of them in the same position who could not play – Wilshere, Lanzini, Yarmolenko, to name three of them.
“Yarmolenko is a different player [to Lanzini] and he’s maybe a step below Manu Lanzini [in terms of his match-fitness], because Manu played the last eight or nine games of last season and Andriy started only a few weeks ago.
“I am sure, the same as Manu, the more games he plays in a row, he will continue to improve his performance because he is a technical player who makes a lot of impact near the opposition box.”
With technical players, you can work a lot in a tactical way but finally what decides games is the technical players
Manuel Lanzini
Pellegrini was subsequently asked if he feels nervous when players who have recently returned from injury go away on international duty.
Yarmolenko started twice for Ukraine, in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying win in Lithuania and home friendly draw with Nigeria, while Lanzini traveled to the United States and appeared as a substitute in Argentina's 4-0 friendly win over Mexico in San Antonio.
However, the experienced Chilean has been in the game a long time and does not concern himself with matters that are out of his direct control.
“No, I don’t think about it because you could be injured in every moment,” he confirmed. “Maybe he stays here and he can be injured in a training session.
“I think West Ham must be proud whenever a player of this squad is nominated for their national squad. That means that you have good players.
“They are also interested in defending their countries so I am very happy for them.”
