Emerson has noticed a big difference at West Ham after leaving Chelsea and has name-checked Michail Antonio and Eden Hazard.
‘Reliable but unspectacular’ was the honest verdict of a top Chelsea man speaking to Hammers News before David Moyes spent £13.5m bringing Brazil-born Italian international Emerson Palmieri to West Ham in the summer.
It is fair to say he has been pretty spot on thus far following the 28-year-old’s switch from Stamford Bridge to the London Stadium.
Left-back was a major issue to address for West Ham in the summer. But many have questioned whether signing Emerson from Chelsea – where he had barely had a kick under four or five managers since arriving in 2018 – was the right move and enough of an upgrade on Aaron Cresswell.
Supporters were hopeful the club would look to sign a young, modern fullback who gets forward and contributes goals and assists.
Emerson is not that man and has thus far struggled to establish himself in the West Ham side ahead of Cresswell. But he looked very impressive in West Ham’s 3-1 win over Udinese at the weekend.
Chelsea are not pulling up any trees themselves this season without him.
West Ham’s success in recent seasons has been built on a fantastic team spirit. Some have suggested that may be a thing of the past with the Hammers just one point off the bottom three approaching the halfway stage of the season.
But it seems it is still very much intact according to their summer signing from the Blues.
Emerson has spoken on the big difference at West Ham after leaving Chelsea and name-checks Michail Antonio and Eden Hazard.
Speaking in an interview on West Ham’s official website Emerson has raved about the team spirit at West Ham saying it is the best group he has known.
And he names Antonio as his funniest West Ham teammate while ex Chelsea sensation Hazard takes the crown ahead of Neymar as the best he has played with.
“So I played with Neymar at Santos in Brazil, Premier League for me it’s Hazard,” Emerson said on whufc.com when asked the best player he has played with.
“Hazard, wow. I played with him two years (at Chelsea). I’ve never seen one guy like that, he’s a top player…
“Our group (at West Ham) is too funny. Our group is just (shakes his head laughing).
“Since the first day I arrived in here (at West Ham from Chelsea), every day you have a lot of things to make your day better. Our group, our dressing room is too funny…
“We have Antonio, for sure Antonio (is the funniest), (Kurt) Zouma – I played with Zouma already at Chelsea – so I already know Zouma very well, this guy every day is happy, always laughing and is a top guy.
“We have a lot of players who are funny, (Manuel) Lanzini, (Pablo) Fornals, now (Lucas) Paqueta, me as well! It’s a good group, it’s a funny group.”
Let’s hope we can use that team spirit to turn turn the season around when the Premier League resumes.
Because it has been anything but funny for the Hammers in the league so far this season.
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