Zabaleta calls for unity as West Ham prepare for tough finish

LONDON, 18 March 2018: West Ham United's players must pull together and improve their performances in the home stretch of a difficult season as they bid to stay in the Premier League, defender Pablo Zabaleta said at the end of the club's training camp in Miami.

West Ham are 16th in the table, just three points above the relegation zone, and have spent the last week training in Florida to prepare for a crucial run of games including meetings with Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United.

"Hopefully we can perform well enough to keep West Ham in the Premier League," Zabaleta, who arrived from Manchester City in the close season, told West Ham's website (www.whufc.com).

"We will try. We know we have to do better than we have done in the last three games.

"It's been a difficult season in terms of injuries and many things that sometimes have affected the team. To the fans all we can say is thanks for the great support... they are amazing," the 33-year-old Argentine added.

West Ham have lost four out of their last five league games, including the last three in a row.