- West Ham United host Arsenal on Sunday afternoon
- The Hammers are in the relegation zone
- Pablo Felipe and Mateus Fernandes have emphasised the squad’s positivity despite the dire situation
There is no avoiding the enormity of the job that West Ham United faces this Sunday. The Hammers host title-chasing Arsenal at the London Stadium with their fight for survival dwindling, but belief inside the squad remains unshaken.
West Ham are one point behind Tottenham Hotspur, who face all but safe Leeds United on Monday. If Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were to be unable to find a result against Arsenal and Spurs defeat Leeds United, confirmation of relegation would be a likely outcome before the final day.
Despite the difficult circumstances, the message from within is clear: the Hammers will not give up without a fight. Both Pablo Felipe and Mateus Fernandes have emphasised the squad’s positivity, stating that they are embracing the task rather than dreading it.
“The atmosphere [at Rush Green] is not different, it’s the same,” Fernandes said to the club website. “Our position is different compared to last week, but it’s football. Everything can change very quickly.
“Last week, we were happier. This week, they won the game and everything changed, but we can change it. We need to be ourselves again. We need to do the same things because in the last four games, we just lost one and it was this last one. We’re doing the right things.
“When we come to the training ground, the mood is very good. The guys believe we can do it.”
Pablo concurs with Fernandes, citing Nuno’s soothing and constructive impact on the team as they get ready for the final run-in.
“For sure, it’s the most important moment of my career,” Pablo detailed. “We know the requirements of the Premier League and we know our mission. We know we are in a difficult situation, but we are confident and positive that we will achieve our goal. We are all working together and focused.
“We have a great coach who helps us a lot. He always motivates us and reassures us about our situation. We have to work hard to get out of this situation.”
West Ham’s Pablo Felipe and Mateus Fernandes on debut seasons
Both Pablo and Fernandes have experienced differing debut seasons in east London. The former arrived in the winter window from Portugal with the hopes of igniting a spark to the Hammers’ stuttering season; however, the forward has only contributed to one moment in his 11 league outings.
Pablo explained how Fernandes has helped him settle after joining West Ham from Gil Vicente: “Mateus has helped me a lot,” Pablo said. “He has always helped me in everything that involves my private life and at the club. I am very grateful to him for the way he received me and for the way he helped me adapt.
“It was very important to have a person who speaks the same language and is always available and who does it from the bottom of his heart and his goodwill to help me and make me feel good here. He is my tour guide here, but I just have to thank him for the way he received me.
“Everyone in the club also received me in a fantastic way. I have been really impressed with the love and attention everyone showed me. I am very happy.”
Meanwhile, Fernandes has emerged as one of the club’s standout players since joining from Southampton in the summer. The midfielder earned his first Portugal international cap in March and has drawn interest from Europe’s premier clubs in recent months.
“Last season, when I went to England, my first season here, I spoke in Portuguese,” Fernandes explained. “It was difficult because I didn’t speak English and no one spoke Portuguese or Spanish [at Southampton]. It was a little bit scary in the beginning, but then you start to understand some things and it’s getting natural.
“It’s nice to go to the dressing room and speak with him, with the manager, with the chefs. They speak Portuguese as well. I think it’s nice to have this comfort in your club.
“Pablo is a nice guy. His family is very nice. I’m very happy to help him and his family as well.”
