Gianfranco Zola admits problems at West Ham United affected his home life this season.

But Zola's wife, Franca, knew better than to advise her husband to walk away from the stresses and strains of trying to keep West Ham in the Premier League.

"My wife has been very important. This year I have been a pain in the backside because when things don't go very well you take the problems home. I was unbearable at times," said Zola.

"I was frustrated because I really don't like to lose and when I go home, you keep working things over inside until you find a solution and sometimes it is not good for the people around you.

"During the season, there were difficult moments and that was a particularly painful week. I had to think about what the right solution was for the club. I didn't want to be here just to take the money.

"But she (Franca) knows that I don't give up. Sardinians never give up. We had to finish in a positive way. I felt it would have been an injustice if this team had gone down.

"I know the quality of the players and I know the circumstances in which we were playing."