Chris Coleman has cast doubt on United's chances of avoiding relegation 24 hours ahead of Fulham's visit to The Boleyn Ground.
The two teams meet tomorrow afternoon in what is being billed as a 'must win' game for United, who are currently four points adrift of safety with just sixteen Premiership games left to play.Coleman knows his Fulham side will be facing a Hammers team low on confidence, with a nervous crowd behind them. According to the Fulham boss, it is a team that could well end up relegated at the end of the season - despite the millions the club's new owners are willing to invest.
"Everyone is waiting for West Ham to get out of it," he told the Daily Mail. "They're a big club with good players. But it does not always happen.
"We have seen time and time again big clubs down there. You are waiting for them to come out of it, but it might not happen.
"Regardless of what Alan [Curbishley] has to spend in the window he knows he has a big job on his hands. He will have to call on all his experience to get them out of trouble.
"There are 16 games to go and I think they need to win eight of those to give themselves a chance - and that is not easy."
Coleman - whose side go into tomorrow's fixture having drawn their last five games - also claimed that Luis Boa Morte, who United signed from Fulham only last week, wouldn't pose his team too much of a problem.
"I am not being bitter and twisted, but I don't think we will be weakened by his departure," he added.
"If you have someone at a club who doesn't want to be there it will show in their performances.
"His heart was somewhere else so he struggled. Give me a young player with appetite every day of the week."
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