The man behind the most surprising storyline of West Ham’s 2-0 win at Manchester United has revealed why he was in tears in the Old Trafford changing room.
West Ham and Man United fans feel like crying most weeks given how bad their sides have been for some time now.
All the evidence needed of that came in the form of the Premier League table before Manchester United welcomed West Ham on Sunday afternoon.
The Hammers sat 17th, two points and two places below Man United with two under pressure managers desperately trying to figure out how to get lift-off for their teams.
The game threatened to be one of the more unusual meetings between two clubs who have had some famous encounters down the years.
Man United had more than one eye on their Europa League final in 10 days’ time.
West Ham and Man United have been intrinsically linked when it comes to their managers in the last year.
West Ham and Man United face big summer rebuilds
When former Red Devils boss David Moyes was leaving West Ham this time last year, the club’s owners held a high profile meeting with Ruben Amorim.
The Portuguese proved too expensive in the end and West Ham turned to free agent Julen Lopetegui – who had been linked with Man United – but INEOS stuck with Erik ten Hag.
Fast forward to October and West Ham fortuitously beating Man United 1-0 at the London Stadium saw Ten Hag sacked and replaced by Amorim.
Lopetegui wouldn’t last too much longer with Graham Potter arriving in January.
Amorim and Potter have huge jobs on their hands this summer.
But after West Ham secured a comfortable 2-0 win to go above Man United, it is perhaps Amorim who has the bigger task on his hands.
Both Amorim and Potter made a number of changes for the clash.
While that was not a surprise from Man United given what looms large on the horizon for them, it was for West Ham.
The biggest surprise of all was Guido Rodriguez being named in the starting XI.
The Argentine midfielder has barely played since joining West Ham from Real Betis last summer.
Rodriguez, a World Cup and two-time Copa America winner with his country, has been completely frozen out by Potter since he arrived in January.
So when Potter named him in the starting line-up as West Ham’s extra midfielder in place of striker Niclas Fullkrug, it sparked angry reactions from supporters.
Man United-mad West Ham star explains why he broke down
Hammers fans let the manager know too as they chanted about Fullkrug during the game.
But now Man United-mad West Ham star Rodriguez has explained why he broke down in tears after the Old Trafford win.
Rodriguez looked like a player who has not had a sniff of action for three or four months as he got off to a shaky start against Man United.
In fact the first four times he touched the ball he gave it away and looked like a fish out of water.
But the player who was set to be Barcelona’s replacement for Sergio Busquets until Xavi Hernandez left, turned the performance on its head.
Rodriguez was brilliant throughout, emerging as West Ham’s key player in their first league win at Man United for 18 years.
Ironically it was another Argentine, Carlos Tevez, who helped secure their last one as West Ham pulled off the Great Escape in 2007.
There were emotional scenes after the game for the likes of Aaron Cresswell, Vladimir Coufal and Lukasz Fabianski following the announcement the veteran trio are being released next month.
Cresswell and Coufal were also excellent in the victory and were serenaded by the travelling West Ham fans as they lapped up the applause after the game.
But there were emotional scenes in the changing room for Rodriguez too after the match.
Lucas Paqueta was an unused sub for the Hammers after he burst into tears when booked against Spurs last weekend.
The real reason for Paqueta’s tears was revealed after the game, though. It emerged his spot-fixing trial had secretly resumed and will be concluded in the next five weeks, with the FA pushing for a lifetime ban.
Rodriguez realised a dream at Old Trafford after West Ham nightmare
Tears flowed again this week and Rodriguez took to social media to reveal why.
Up there as a contender for West Ham’s man of the match, Rodriguez explained he grew up following Manchester United religiously and fantasising about one day playing at Old Trafford.
And he admitted breaking down after ending one of the most difficult spells of his career by realising a dream.
In a deeply emotional post on Instagram accompanied by images of the Theatre of Dreams sign and himself crying, Rodriguez says his younger self would have been proud.
“It was about three months without playing (when I started against Man United) and after so much endurance and effort, today was a reward,” Rodriguez said.
“Better days, worse days, and today I was able to let out what was inside me.
“Little Guido, who watched the Premier League and the games at Old Trafford on Sunday mornings at home, dreaming of being a soccer player one day, would be very proud of what he became today, of what he achieved with his drive and dedication. Of how he enjoyed and continues to enjoy the process.
“Of how he cried after the game. And of how he continues to pursue and work for his dreams.”
Despite his brilliant performance, Rodriguez looks set to leave West Ham this summer.
A potential return to his Argentine boyhood club River Plate beckons.
At least he will leave with his head held high after what he did to help the Hammers beat the team ‘little Guido’ watched in awe all those years ago.
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