West Ham United beat Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
West Ham United ace Michail Antonio has told The Guardian that Manuel Pellegrini wanted his players to get in behind Tottenham Hotspur’s defenders on Saturday.
The Hammers made the short trip to North London on Saturday to take on Spurs, having taken just one point in their previous four games.
That, coupled with Tottenham’s winning run at their new stadium, meant few were backing West Ham for a win – but that’s exactly what they did.
Pellegrini’s side were resolute and frustrated Tottenham, before hitting them with the sucker punch as Antonio pounced to score the only goal of the game.
That’s Tottenham’s first defeat at their new stadium and even the first goal conceded, giving West Ham a unique form of bragging rights over their London rivals.
The win may not push West Ham back towards Europa League contention, but may give them a platform to finish the season strongly ahead of the summer transfer window.
Now, match-winner Antonio has admitted that Pellegrini felt Tottenham’s defenders don’t like to face their own goal, so told his players to make runs in behind them – and that’s exactly how West Ham grabbed all three points.
“The gaffer [Manuel Pellegrini] knew what we had to do and that was to make runs in behind them, because their defenders do not like to face their own goal. That’s how we created the goal and this victory,” said Antonio.
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