West Ham United defender Emerson Palmieri has expressed frustration with their recent performances and called on his teammates to believe more in themselves.
They have struggled for consistency this season, leaving them in the lower half of the Premier League table.
The latest outing after their 3-0 humiliation at Nottingham Forest resulted in a drab goalless draw with Everton.
Emerson said (via WHUFC.co.uk). We are a family. We know each other very well.
“We know our strengths and our quality, so we just need to believe more because we have a lot of quality. We just need to believe more and show it on the pitch,”
The Italian full-back’s comments highlight a lack of confidence within the squad. Despite the talent at their disposal, West Ham have failed to translate their potential into consistent results.
However, despite the frustrating result, Emerson remains optimistic and believes that a clean sheet is a positive step forward.
“It was a tough game against a well-organised Everton side,” he added. “We defended well, and while we would have preferred three points, a clean sheet is important.”
A clean sheet was crucial for West Ham, considering their defence has been utterly shambolic. They shipped 74 goals last term, the fourth-most after the three teams that got relegated.
Things have not improved this term. Heading into the game against Everton, they had the fourth-worst defence.
While Emerson’s plea for unity is understandable, the underlying issues at West Ham run deeper. The team’s inconsistent performances and lack of attacking impetus have been a persistent problem, raising questions about the suitability of manager Julen Lopetegui.
West Ham’s struggles will likely continue unless West Ham address the elephant in the room. Lopetegui’s system is stifling the players’ creativity and the team’s overall potential.
A change in managerial direction could be the catalyst needed to revitalise West Ham and challenge for one of the European places.
