Michail Antonio spoke to reporters after his side’s fine 1-0 win away at Southampton on Saturday, and shared what Manuel Pellegrini told the West Ham players before the game.
The Hammers were in the midst of a dreadful run of form before the Saints game. They had won just one in their last 10 Premier League games before the beat Southampton 1-0.
Manuel Pellegrini’s players effectively saved the Chilean from the sack with their win at St Mary’s.
West Ham don’t play again now until Boxing Day, but there is now a genuine feeling of optimism emanating from the London Stadium for the first time in a very long time.
Perhaps now, with two up front, the Hammers can really kick on. And the pressure has been eased slightly on Pellegrini.
Antonio spoke to reporters and shared with them what the Chilean told the West Ham players before the Southampton game, as quoted by the Express:
“A good manager won’t put pressure on his players. A good manager will let you to play free and with confidence. That is one thing he said to us, basically just go out there and play as well as we know we can. I felt we did that and we’ve done it for him.”
Despite the win over Southampton, Pellegrini’s job is still far from safe.
With games against Crystal Palace, Leicester City and Bournemouth to come, the West Ham boss is still walking on very thin ice.
And if the Hammers lose at Palace on Boxing Day, the 66-year-old could be sent packing.
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