Manuel Pellegrini is hoping to give West Ham United supporters ‘double satisfaction’ on Saturday as his side looks to both beat Tottenham Hotspur and, in the process, become the first team to claim a win at their new stadium.
This weekend’s opponents moved into their new home – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – at the beginning of April, and are yet to taste defeat at the ground, winning all four home matches this month without conceding.
The north London side have proven themselves to be more than capable, reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League, but Pellegrini is confident his team can become the first to beat Tottenham in their new stadium; much like West Ham did in 2007 when they became the first side to win at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
It would be a double satisfaction for our team to win against Tottenham at the new home stadium.
Manuel Pellegrini
“This weekend could be a double pleasure,” Pellegrini said. “First, to beat Tottenham, and the second is to be the first to win in that stadium.
“I hope that both sets of fans will go to see a good football game this weekend. I hope it will be a good game for all the fans, and that we can take the win.
“It’s a game the fans really want us to win, which is why it would be a double satisfaction for our team to win against Tottenham at the new home stadium. We will try to do that.”
Tottenham will be without England captain Harry Kane to lead their front line, but Pellegrini is aware that Spurs possess other quality attacking players, and his team will need to be at their best to take the three points.
With Tottenham chasing Champions League qualification for next season also, the Chilean knows his team are in for a tough test.
He continued: “They are a squad and they have very many players who are a good replacement [for Kane]. If it is not Kane then it is Llorente, Lucas Moura or Son, so they have a lot of different options to play in attack.
“They are third in the table and they are at home. I expect to find a team that is fully focused on our game.”