Manuel Pellegrini explains Fabián Balbuena's lack of game time | OneFootball

One of the biggest questions for West Ham this season has been: Where is Fabián Balbuena?

When healthy, Balbuena started virtually every match last season. However, aside from the initial 5-0 drubbing from Manchester City, the Paraguay international has only seen a few seconds on the pitch aside from the Hammers’ EFL Cup win over Newport County.

In an interview with Football.London, manager Manuel Pellegrini discussed why the 28-year-old has been out of his XI.

“[Balbuena] arrived from his national squad late and he played just one [full] game [in pre-season].

“That was my mistake to play with him in the first game because I trusted too much in what he can do, but it was too soon for him.

“Angelo [Ogbonna] worked with Diop the complete pre-season and now they are the two centre-backs who must play.”

West Ham will be back in action on Sunday when they host Manchester United.