OGBONNA: OURS IS A STADIUM OF MIGHT

ANGELO OGBONNA reckons a new positive vibe at the London Stadium – combined with West Ham’s Europa Conference League challenge – can help fuel their bid for Premier

League survival.

Three years ago, after the move to their current home, the Hammers found themselves in a relegation battle similar to this season’s and Ogbonna well remembers the negativity at the ground back then.

This time, however, on the back of successive European campaigns, the defender senses a very different feeling.

He said: “Three years ago at this moment, the atmosphere was even toxic.

“But, even though we are in kind of the same situation, the atmosphere is more positive than it was.

“When we moved to the new stadium, the fans weren’t happy and the crowd was so wide around the stadium.

“Now it feels like our stadium and what we did, we did all together.

“But the fans know we can do more, they know we have very good players and can turn things around.

“Everything comes from expectation. For two years, we played in Europe.

“The way we started in the league, a little bit sloppy, and then carried on, the fans expected more.

“Maybe they were expecting to go to the Champions League because of the money we spent and the things we did, but it’s a transition moment.

“Every club has this kind of thing. Even Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool had to wait four or five years to win something.”

Ogbonna is firing on all cylinders again after missing six months of last season with a knee injury.

The 34-year-old, out of contract at the end of the season, says avoiding relegation from the Premier League remains the club’s overriding objective.

“The priority is to stay in the league. For the pride and history of the club, it’s really important to stay in the league,” he added.