Source: PA
Hitzlsperger: Players feeling the pressure
West Ham midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger admits the relegation battle is taking its toll psychologically but is hoping for a good result in this weekend's clash with Chelsea.
The Hammers have endured a frustrating and ultimately disappointing season, with the east Londoners languishing 19th in the Barclays Premier League after a 2-1 home defeat to Aston Villa.
Avram Grant's side only have five games to secure their survival - including a trip to Stamford Bridge this weekend - and Hitzlsperger knows they are in for a fight.
"We are never really free, are we?," he told the club's official website. "We're in a relegation fight and we've been in there all season and it's not easy going into a game like [last] Saturday and knowing you have to win it and if you don't, you're in really big trouble like we are now.
"We are not free of the pressure and we do feel it but we're not the only ones. Villa came and definitely didn't want to lose the game. There are pressures on all of us and we've got to cope with it.
"We go to Chelsea wanting to win the game, knowing we're going up against a really good side but hopefully they'll struggle."
