West Ham United are still well in a relegation fight, but have made serious strides since an abysmal first-half of the season. The Hammers may have lost 5-2 to Liverpool in their last game but remain just two points from safety in their fight to stay in the Premier League.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s team have improved across the board, with defensive improvements being key to better results. At the top end of the pitch, the form of winger Crysencio Summerville has been a huge part of West Ham getting goals and winning games.
The Dutch winger spoke to the club’s official website about how getting fit, alongside Nuno’s tactics have helped him and the team, give themselves a chance this year:
“I think after a frustrating season where I got injured, it was more like a push, a challenge for myself to come back even better,” he confirmed. I’m just happy to be back on the pitch with the team as well and show my ability to the fans, what they’ve been waiting for. Again, you can tell on the pitch it’s just enjoyable to play.
“I know I’m in a good space lately, in good form, and I try to keep the momentum going.”
New-born goal scorer
Summerville does not just believe that Nuno and his staff are responsible for his form, but also a new addition to his family. In December, the Summerville family gained a baby girl, and the winger credits her with giving him an extra sense of responsibility:
“I just got a baby girl in December, so I think that’s what brought me a bit of peace as well,” he revealed. “It’s a big blessing from God and I feel very good. I think you can see it on the pitch, I enjoy my game, I enjoy myself.
“I think it motivates me even more. When she grows up, I want her to remember ‘Daddy worked hard for you’ and I want to give her the best childhood.
“[When I scored against Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup] my celebration was also for her. Before I left my house, I said to her – obviously she can’t speak yet, but I said to her, ‘Daddy’s going to score for you’. When the game began, I was like, ‘I need to score for my daughter’. I know for myself as well, if I score one time, if I fill the net one time, I know the run is going to continue.”
Onto Fulham
West Ham head to Fulham tomorrow night, knowing time is running out in their fight for survival. Summerville has acknowledged just how much West Ham have improved, but knows it cannot stop till the Hammers are safe:
“For sure, I think we improved a lot from how it was at the start of the season., so hopefully we can keep this going,” he observed.
“We know where we are and we know that we have to fight. It’s until the last game that we can do this for the fans as well, because I think we belong in the Premier League. I think we have to keep going.
“We know how it’s going to be. It’s going to be a fight. We know that we don’t belong where we’re at. It’s going to be a fight until the end. I think we improved a lot from what it was at the start. I think we have to take all the positives from the last few games and now we see it game by game.
“Every game for us is a final and I think that needs to be the mentality.”
