WE DON’T FADE & DIE
Ogbonna: Last season at 3-0 up, Spurs thought the game was over. I saw it in their faces. Then Lanzini... last minute... top corner 3-3... we’re the NEW West Ham
ANGELO OGBONNA says West Ham are determined to do another Italian job on Tottenham.
Ogbonna played in one of the great derbies last season when the Hammers came back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at Spurs thanks to Manuel Lanzini’s last-gasp equaliser.
The Italy defender also scored the winner against Tottenham at Wembley in 2017 when West Ham again came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 and he says that shows just how much Spurs games mean to the players.
“They thought the game was over,” said Ogbonna, recalling last season’s comeback. “I saw their faces. But they didn’t know about West Ham. The new West Ham! I think it’s part of the West Ham character.
“The moment we are struggling, we fight to survive. All Italians are like that. When Italians struggle, we survive. We knew we could come back.
“Sometimes football is unpredictable. We want to do something more against Tottenham. Every fan can feel that.
“I remember the game at Wembley when we went 2-0 down. Slaven Bilic was on the line and everyone was behind him and wanted to do something for him. I think it was the best goal I’ve scored for West Ham.
“But Lanzini’s goal last season in the last minute...no one expected that. Top corner and I was the one who had blocked (Harry) Winks from scoring.
“Tottenham will want revenge because they lost in our stadium as well and they will want to show they are different. But West Ham fans create the most amazing atmosphere. We don’t play with 11 players, we have a 12th player, and this is a special game.”
Ogbonna, in his seventh season at West Ham, will play his 200th game for the club tomorrow, and joked that it has felt like 500 at times.
“It’s the pressure we put on ourselves,” the 33-yearold (in action, above) said. “The demands we set. That’s why I say it feels like I’ve played even 500 games.
“I want to do something important, leave a legacy for my son and my daughter and set an example for them.”
“As a player, you don’t think about money. Being successful is more important.
“As a footballer, you want to play for the best team. Having competition for my place has improved me – all of the best teams have that.”
Ogbonna has formed a strong partnership with Kurt Zouma and their link-up has given West Ham a solid foundation. The Londoners have conceded only three goals in their last six matches.
They go into tomorrow’s fixture just a point behind Spurs after finishing three points, and one Premier League place, ahead of them last season.
Ogbonna clearly enjoys a close relationship with manager David Moyes but also credits his former assistant Alan Irvine with a lightbulb moment.
He added: “When the manager came in, Alan Irvine showed me a video of Phil Jagielka. They used to work at Everton and he wanted me to do more. He showed me two or three clips of Jagielka controlling the line. I really appreciated that moment.
“The Premier League is more demanding. If you don’t prepare yourself then you will struggle. I’m so proud - to get to this age is so tough. I would like to be a little bit younger! But this is my best football of my career.”