Manuel Lanzini says West Ham United can take their winning form in Europe into the Premier League.
The Argentina international netted in the Hammers’ 3-2 UEFA Europa Conference Group B win over Silkeborg IF in Denmark on Thursday night – his second European goal for the Club, 209 appearances and over seven years after he scored within three minutes of making his debut in a Europa League play-off round tie at Astra Giurgiu in August 2015!
The No10’s penalty sparked the Irons’ comeback from a goal down to secure a second straight UECL victory, and Lanzini told West Ham TV he is hoping the confidence drawn from wins over Silkeborg and Romanian side FCSB will translate into improved domestic results.
West Ham head to Everton on Sunday seeking just a second success in seven Premier League matches to start the new season, but performances against Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea suggest David Moyes’ side have turned a positive corner.
“In this competition, every game is hard and is difficult and everything, the pitch and the atmosphere, but we have got two wins and we need to continue like this [in Europe and in the Premier League],” said Lanzini.
“I am here for a long time and I always say this is my second home. I love the fans and I think they love me and it’s good!”
Reflecting on Thursday’s win at JYSK park, Lanzini was delighted to net his 30th goal for the Club – only Michail Antonio has scored more – and help his team to a valuable, if hard-earned victory in testing conditions over worthy opponents on an artificial pitch.
“It was very hard work!” he confirmed. “We knew it was going to be a difficult team on a difficult pitch, but I think the win was important in this competition.
“They have good players, we saw that in the videos, and we knew it was going to be a difficult game, but I think we controlled the game in the first half and we scored three goals, which was important because we could control the game in the second half. They had to press us and sometimes it was difficult for us because we had to run a lot, but the win was important for us.
“The pitch was crazy and you never knew how you needed to step, the ball so quick and the pitch was quick, but fortunately I scored! It was good because I slipped after I shot. If it was before, it was a problem, but it was important we got a goal to level the game in that moment and that was good for us.”
