Antonio: “We are looking to win every single time”

(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Michail Antonio is the latest player to declare that West Ham are becoming a big team and that the self belief flowing through the team like never before is entirely down to the manager.

He has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of a managerial policy which refuses to accept anything other than a desire to win whoever the team may be facing.

Okay, we all know his defending is not the best and that there will always be some hairy moments when he is involved at right back.

But his lung busting runs at Southampton demonstrated exactly where this team is at right now as they go for a minimum of three points a match.

Pablo Zabaleta is expected to be fit again tomorrow at Burnley so we can expect to see Antonio pushing through the middle again with either Chicharito or Lucas Perez alongside.

And with his attacking form improving game by game we are looking for more fireworks.

Speaking to www.whufc.com he said: “The boss says we need to think like we’re a big team. He tells us that we shouldn’t go into any games, even against the likes of Chelsea or against Manchester City, and try to draw those games.

“We are going out there to win every single time. We are believing that we are a big team, and that is down to the belief he is putting in us. I think we are showing it, and if we keep doing what we are doing, then anything is possible.”

“No matter where I’m playing, I’m going to try and give it 100 per cent. Against Southampton, I tried to get forward a bit and I’m enjoying it.

“We’ve got so many injuries, but we’re fighting and we keep going. I don’t know what it is, but every season we manage to lose players. This year we’ve managed to sign nine players in the summer and we’ve got a bigger squad now so, even though we’ve lost players, we’ve got people that can step in and do the job.”