The task is set, according to Emerson.
Nine games across April and nine games to turn things around.
A packed schedule starts on Sunday, when West Ham United host Southampton at London Stadium. And with two places and one point separating the two sides, who top and tail the bottom three, the Italy full-back knows what’s at stake.
“It is very important for both teams,” Emerson agreed. “But we play at home, so we need to play [positively] and try to win. We respect Southampton, but we want these three points.”
Having spent the international break with Italy, Emerson was one of ten first-team players to feature for their respective countries. And while the 28-year-old earned his 30th international cap in a 2-0 win over Malta, his focus quickly switched to the Premier League following his return to Rush Green training ground.
“It is always good to play for the national team," Emerson stated, “but now I start to think about West Ham. It is a hard situation because if you look at the team on paper it is a very good team. In our dressing room, we are confident we can do better. We need to try to win against Southampton as much as possible.”
Searching for a first career Premier League win over Southampton, although he did overcome the Saints 2-0 in an FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea in 2017/18, Emerson is aware of the test to come.
Under their third manager of the season in Rubén Sellés, Southampton's recent triumph over his former club at Stamford Bridge shows the quality in the opposition's ranks.
And while bottom of the table, Southampton possess players who can pose a threat, but the No33 insists West Ham need to push the Saints onto the back foot on home turf and put clear space between the two in the Premier League table..
“We have chances to turn it around and we need to take them,” Emerson stated. “But we need to work hard and help the team get through this tough period. We play at home. We need to be offensive. And we need to win the game.”
