As 2020 drew to a close for West Ham United with Tuesday night’s hard-fought 0-0 draw at Southampton, midfielder Pablo Fornals took the opportunity to reflect on the positive moves his team have taken on the pitch over the last six months.
Resuming the 2019/20 campaign in June still in a relegation battle, the Hammers navigated their mission of securing top flight football successfully and have shown loftier ambitions over the first portion of this campaign.
The point at St Mary’s ensured they would end 2020 in the top half of the table and Fornals wants to ensure 2021 beings more consistent improvement.
On a personal level, the Spaniard was delighted to be back in the team after watching Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion from the bench and playing his part as David Moyes’ men secured a fifth clean sheet of the season.
“I think first of all when you look at 2020 we have come forward, with the way we played last season to stay in the Premier League, and how we’ve started this one,” the No18 explained.
“I think we are in a good position, it’s true that maybe we should have more points but it’s but that’s football and I think it’s a positive year to be a Hammer.
“I was happy to be in the eleven again at Southampton, and it was a good point in a difficult stadium.
“Not many teams will get points there, so I think in the way the game was maybe we deserved a little bit more but I think it’s a good way to finish the year.”
“I am completely sure that if we work as we know at Everton, keep pushing from the back and press high, we are a difficult team to beat
Pablo Fornals
The festive football keeps on coming for the Hammers this week, with a trip to Everton next up. Merseyside has been a happy hunting ground for Fornals with two of his four Premier League goals for the Club coming at Liverpool, and now he wants to take that form across Stanley Park to Goodison.
“One year and one day ago I scored my first goal for West Ham [against Leicester City], so that was an incredible day and I think in all the moments I’ve tried to learn from the positive things and the bad things too. I think it’s a good way to work in life.
“I hope I can score at Everton now too. Maybe we can play some more times against Leicester and Liverpool so I can score more goals! I’m working hard to improve these things and I try to help a little more in attacking for us.
“I am completely sure that if we work as we know at Everton, keep pushing from the back and press high, we are a difficult team to beat. We have to play like this, try to play in this way and I think that’s the way to get points.”
The Hammers could give more of an involvement to Michail Antonio at Everton after the Hammers striker returned from injury with a 13-minute cameo as a sub at Southampton.
Fornals has developed an excellent understanding with Antonio on the pitch and is sure the two will continue to create chances for one another.
“For me, Mick is a good partner,” he added. “We have a good understanding, he knows what I’m going to do and I know in which direction he wants to run, so I hope this relationship gives us goals and opportunities, but we have a great squad.
“We played two days ago, and today we made some changes – it was the first game for Craig Dawson – and it doesn’t matter who is on the pitch, everyone runs and works hard and that’s important for us.”
