Pellegrini pre-game talk: Losing Yarmolenko is a ‘real pity’ before Leicester City

West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini expressed his dismay Friday over his growing injury list following the news of Andriy Yarmolenko officially being out for possible the remainder of the season.

In his weekly press conference before Saturday’s contest against Leicester, Pellegrini didn’t hide his sullenness over the talented Ukrainian’s torn Achillies tendon that he suffered last week in the 1-0 lost to Tottenham at the London Stadium. Yarmolenko is the latest player to be bitten by the West Ham injury bug, a reoccurring, exasperating theme for the club since the second season of Slaven Bilic being in charge.

“Unfortunately we have a lot of long injuries,” Pellegrini said. “Yarmolenko will be out for five months. Very disappointed. We also have Lanzini out, Wilshere out, so the same three players in the same position is really a pity, it is very difficult for the team.”

In other press conference key notes:

On Andy Carroll:

“Andy is work sometimes with the squad, another he continue recovering with the physio in the gym. I hope after the international break, we are 100% sure, the last game before the international break. “

On Grady Diangana

“As a young player, he has a lot of good technical conditions, some things he needs to improve, but he will have some chance in some things.”

On Leicester City:

“Well as always with every game of the Premier League, you must start with every game being difficult. All the games are difficult in the Premier League. Leicester is not the exception. They have very good players and they continue to work in a way where they are a very good team.”

WATCH: