Manuel Pellegrini said Saturday’s performance at Tottenham Hotspur was exactly what he wants from his team.
The Hammers stood up to the threat Tottenham possessed, defending solidly for the whole 90 minutes, but there was more to their game than that.
West Ham also provided a threat themselves and were rewarded midway through the second period when Michail Antonio lashed into the net.
The three points - the first defeat inflicted on Spurs at their new home - was deserved reward in Pellegrini’s eyes and the boss was full of praise for his side.
“I feel that we played a big game because we defended well, because we attacked well, because we played in a way I always say this team needs to play, as a big team to go to every stadium and try to win the game.
“That was what we did today, and especially for the fans we know Tottenham is our major rival, so the fans must be very happy.
“First the result is satisfying, because we deserved to win both the last two games and for different reasons we couldn’t do it, but I always said that we were playing really well and we deserved more.
“Today, we were a complete team, all defending together without the ball and the second part for me it what I like, the team trying to win.
“We tried to score more goals, you saw the characteristics of our players, and I’m happy about that.”
We played in a way I always say this team needs to play, as a big team to go to every stadium and try to win the game
Manuel Pellegrini
Pellegrini was also happy for Marko Arnautovic, who laid on Antonio’s 67th minute winner.
“Arnautovic was very good,” he added. “I spoke with him at half-time that he was running too far from the ball and he must come to the ball to support it.
“He made a brilliant pass to assist Antonio for the goal, he participated more in the game and it has been a difficult season for Marko but I’m sure we can recover the player we know he can be.”