'It is a feeling we must try to eliminate': Manuel Pellegrini does not want West Ham to sleepwalk to the end of the season and calls on them to push for Europa League qualification Manuel Pellegrini does not West Ham to sleepwalk to the end of the season Finishing seventh could still act as a route into European football He wants a reaction to Cardiff defeat against Huddersfield on SaturdayBy Kieran Gill for MailOnline Published: 23:19 GMT, 15 March 2019 | Updated: 23:19 GMT, 15 March 2019 Viewcomments Manuel Pellegrini has called on West Ham's players to not sleepwalk towards the summer and instead end the season on a high by clinching a Europa League spot. Finishing seventh in the Premier League could still act as a route into Europe and Pellegrini says he wants to 'eliminate' any sense that their season is over. West Ham were beaten 2-0 by relegation battlers Cardiff last weekend and their boss is demanding a reaction when they host bottom-of-the-table Huddersfield. Manuel Pellegrini has called on West Ham's players to not sleepwalk towards the summer 'It is a feeling we must try to eliminate,' Pellegrini said. 'In every game you must give your best performance. We have to work hard for these 24 points more we can give. 'We are just five points from the European spots if one of the big teams wins the Cup so we have that mentality. You know we are in the Premier League where there are no easy games. 'This is a big team. From the first day that I arrived here, when you have a club that plays with 60,000 people behind you every game, it is because it is a big team. 'We are trying to improve our squad, we are going to try to improve the way we play, our mentality, our ambitious minds. You never give up.' Finishing seventh in the Premier League could still act as a route into Europe for Pellegrini Asked whether mentality has been an issue, because they have played well against big clubs but poorly against smaller ones, Pellegrini said consistency is a must. 'When you play against big teams you can demonstrate that you are able to do it,' he said. 'After that you must be a solid and consistent team. 'Understand that every game will be why you have a successful or unsuccessful season. 'The mentality must be that you can improve every week, in every training session here at Rush Green and it's what we are trying to do this season.' Marko Arnautovic is expected to make his return to the starting line up against Huddersfield Meanwhile, Marko Arnautovic is expected to make his return to the starting line up after finding himself frozen out of the team by Pellegrini in recent weeks. Arnautovic has not started since January, when he tried to force through a transfer to China. Yet last week's pitiful performance at Cardiff angered Pellegrini and he could abandon his constant benching of Arnautovic by bringing his best player back into the loop. 'On Saturday we are going to see what is the starting XI,' Pellegrini said. 'When you win, you were 100 per cent clear and right on your decision. When you don't win, you did all wrong.' Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility