When it comes to experience, few members of the current West Ham United squad have more than Angelo Ogbonna.
The centre-back, who turns 31 in May, has played in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Premier League, Serie A and UEFA European Championship finals and travelled with his country, Italy, to the FIFA World Cup.
With well over 350 senior club appearances and 13 international caps to his name, Ogbonna won promotion with Torino before winning two Serie A titles, the Italian Cup and Super Cup with Juventus.
After being part of the Old Lady’s squad for the 2015 UEFA Champions League final defeat by Barcelona, the defender decided to continue his football adventure with West Ham United.
Since then, the Cassino-born player has made 121 appearances, scored six memorable goals and played his part in the Hammers’ history at both the Boleyn Ground and London Stadium.
Despite having enjoyed and endured so much on the pitch, the quietly-spoken star still harbours ambitions to achieve more, with his immediate target to help West Ham return to winning ways at home to Huddersfield Town this afternoon.
We play at home and we cannot fail at home in front of our fans. We can’t make the same mistakes like we did last weekend
Angelo Ogbonna
“It’s very important that we win the game,” he confirmed. “It’s not an easy game, we can’t start like we did in the last game [at Cardiff City, where we conceded within five minutes and lost 2-0]. The Premier League is like that, you can’t just relax because they are at the bottom of the table. We have to fight and try to get the three points.
“I think we need to be concentrated and focused. We play at home and we cannot fail at home in front of our fans. We can’t make the same mistakes like we did last weekend.
“I don’t think there’s added pressure playing the team at the bottom, but we have to be confident and not make the same mistakes. When you play against teams at the bottom, you can’t relax. That can never happen and maybe that’s where mistakes come.”
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