Manuel Lanzini was thrilled to step out onto the Boleyn Ground turf for the first time in Sunday’s Betway Cup defeat to Werder Bremen.
The 22-year-old Argentine, a summer loan arrival from UAE side Al-Jazira, was a second half substitute on Sunday as he made his first appearance for his new Club.
He impressed with his neat footwork and was not far away from levelling with a free-kick towards the end of the contest and now he is hungry to show what he can do in competitive action.
He told West Ham TV: “I’m very happy, very excited about making my debut, and playing with the first team.
“I think it was what I wanted, and looking beyond the result, I think there are good things and there are also some things to improve. However, personally I am very happy to have played.
“I wanted to know how it felt [to play in the Boleyn Ground] and think the club has a magnificent fanbase. It was really a very good game for a first team debut, and now I have to spend time with them [the fans] adjusting and getting comfortable with them, However for now I feel more at home, they are very passionate and fanatical fans, and that’s great.”
The 22-year-old Argentine, a summer loan arrival from UAE side Al-Jazira, was a second half substitute on Sunday as he made his first appearance for his new Club.
He impressed with his neat footwork and was not far away from levelling with a free-kick towards the end of the contest and now he is hungry to show what he can do in competitive action.
He told West Ham TV: “I’m very happy, very excited about making my debut, and playing with the first team.
“I think it was what I wanted, and looking beyond the result, I think there are good things and there are also some things to improve. However, personally I am very happy to have played.
“I wanted to know how it felt [to play in the Boleyn Ground] and think the club has a magnificent fanbase. It was really a very good game for a first team debut, and now I have to spend time with them [the fans] adjusting and getting comfortable with them, However for now I feel more at home, they are very passionate and fanatical fans, and that’s great.”
Lanzini could make his European bow on Thursday when the Hammers travel to Astra Giurgiu for the second leg of their UEFA Europa League qualifier and he is looking forward to the test.
He continued: “I think that we have to put our minds to Thursday’s match against Astra in Romania. I think it will be a difficult match, but I think we will put our minds to it and concentrate of getting the best result. Afterwards we will have to turn our attention to the match against Arsenal coming up on Sunday, and for everyone that is very important.
“Truthfully I feel very comfortable; there are a lot of top quality players. It is a very big team with players who look to accomplish many things and achieve greatness, and I think that is a very important mentality for a team to have, and we will try our best to accomplish that this upcoming season.”
He continued: “I think that we have to put our minds to Thursday’s match against Astra in Romania. I think it will be a difficult match, but I think we will put our minds to it and concentrate of getting the best result. Afterwards we will have to turn our attention to the match against Arsenal coming up on Sunday, and for everyone that is very important.
“Truthfully I feel very comfortable; there are a lot of top quality players. It is a very big team with players who look to accomplish many things and achieve greatness, and I think that is a very important mentality for a team to have, and we will try our best to accomplish that this upcoming season.”