Lanzini: We have been training hard for Saints

Manuel Lanzini insists the Hammers have been training well at Rush Green ahead of the relegation cruncher against Southampton and are determined to get three points from the game.

Manu has hardly been a regular starter this season but his guile and defensive midfield abilities could easily be required for a game which is of utmost importance.

Lanzini – makes the Irons tick

And he declared the squad is fully focused on putting on a big performance following the anxious wait we have suffered via the international break.

Whilst bottom of the Premier League Saints remain just  one point adrift David Moyes’ men in 18th and only four behind Crystal Palace in 12th.

Such are the narrow margins between the bottom nine teams in the Premier League that victory for either West Ham or Southampton on Sunday could move the winners well out of the relegation zone.

As the first-team internationals return to training at Rush Green, Lanzini believes the squad’s collective vision is fixed firmly on Sunday’s match at London Stadium.

Training in the last couple of weeks has been really good,” the No10 told whufc.com “Of course, we haven’t had all the team because of players being away with their countries, but those of us that have been here have been training hard and training well. 

Under the guidance of new manager Rubén Sellés, the Saints defeated Leicester City and picked up creditable points in draws against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks.

“I know Southampton well,” Lanzini continued. “We’ve played against them a lot in the last few years and I know it’s going to be a hard game. 

“They have a new manager and have had a bit of a bounce in their results, so they’ll be up for this match too. They are a good team with good players, but we can only focus on ourselves. We need to worry about what we need to do in order to get the win.”

Gianluca Scamacca celebrates with Manuel Lanzini

“It’s going to be a massive match and we’ll need the fans there, right with us. When they are right there with us, it can make the game a bit easier.

Of course, no game in the Premier League is easy. We know it’s going to be a tough game but we need the win, the three points, to move up the table.”

 

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon