“Today, we dedicate the victory to Michail and his family.”
Julen Lopetegui had only one place to start as he reflected on a West Ham win that could have kept him in a job. This was not about him, though; it had all been for Michail Antonio.
The second half of last week had been dominated by rumblings of a West Ham board meeting where Lopetegui’s sacking had been discussed, as well as who might replace him.
But by Saturday afternoon, there was a new importance for securing three points against Wolves when Antonio, West Ham’s all-time Premier League top scorer, was airlifted to hospital and underwent surgery on a broken leg following a car accident.
Before watching the match, which West Ham won 2-1, on TV from his hospital bed, Antonio shared a video call with his team-mates as they prepared in the dressing room.
That came to encapsulate a night that exhibited something seen far too rarely at the east London club this season: togetherness.
The players came out of the tunnel wearing shirts with Antonio’s name and number on the back, which were signed by the whole squad, including Antonio, after the match and auctioned off to raise money for the NHS and Air Ambulance UK, with the club matching the total raised.
On nine minutes (Antonio wears No9), West Ham and Wolves fans alike applauded in tribute to Antonio, and Tomas Soucek dedicated the Hammers’ opening goal to his team-mate, while captain Jarrod Bowen held an Antonio shirt up to the crowd to celebrate what proved to be the winning goal.
“It has been [a] very tough [few] days,” said Lopetegui. “We love Mike a lot. He is a special player and a special person for us. I am sure that he is strong and he is going to overcome this and come back.”
Soucek agreed, saying: “The goal was for him. I dedicated it to him. He [Antonio] has been here since I came here. He is really my favourite. I said it would be tough for me to play without him.
“I am happy that he is doing fine; this is for him. He is a massive player and he is in my heart.
“I was with [my] kids and I saw this information on the phone. I messaged everyone asking what happened and how he was. I was so scared what was going to happen. It was a really tough week for him, his family and us.
“We had a video call with him, the whole team, before the game. I can't wait to visit him. He even made a few jokes before the game and he wished us all the best.”
Togetherness off the pitch from West Ham seemed to breed a similar response on it
Togetherness off the pitch seemed to breed a similar response on it. This has been a tough season for West Ham, but their fifth Premier League win was encouraging, if not wholly convincing.
Mohammed Kudus and Aaron Wan-Bissaka combined well down the right, and there were vastly improved performances from centre-backs Konstantinos Mavropanos and Max Kilman when compared to their shambolic displays at the King Power Stadium last Tuesday.
West Ham had 18 minutes plus a further eight of stoppage time still to play after Bowen curled into the net, but they defended resolutely, getting the basics right by being first to loose balls and winning aerial duels.
If winning ‘El Sackico’ saves Lopetegui from the chop at least for now, the Spaniard’s exit at some point this season could still be probable.
The West Ham board may not be united in what to do about their manager, but he and his team were united at the London Stadium. Antonio got a tribute he will have been touched by, and Lopetegui got three points he couldn’t have done without.
