Andy Carroll shares 'Dangerous' admission on what happened at West Ham United
Andy Carroll has opened up about his time at West Ham after joining the club on a permanent deal in the summer of 2013.
After a season-long loan at the London Stadium, the striker joined in a £15million deal from Liverpool [BBC Sport], going on to make 118 appearances and scoring 27 goals.
While the 35-year-old was a much-loved figure by the fanbase, he suffered an incredible number of injury setbacks during his time in East London, and he has finally opened up about those dark moments.
Speaking to FootMercato on Thursday (10 October), Carroll said: It was a very difficult time in my life, really. It was a stressful time for me. I was at the bottom of the hole, everything was dark.
"It was difficult to get back on track. I just collapsed and made bad decisions, mistreatment, and bad things. It was just very difficult. You know, as a player, you just want to be on the pitch and play.
"But sometimes you hear stories, people who say 'Oh, he's still hurt', 'He should retire", and things like that which aren't pleasant. At that point, you're in a sinkhole, in your shell and you're just trying to get out of it because it can be dangerous.
"Luckily, I managed to get through it and had a more positive ending. So now I just love playing football."
Andy Carroll thriving after West Ham United dark times
After leaving West Ham, the striker bounced from club to club, rejoining Newcastle United before having spells with Reading, West Brom and Amiens in Ligue 1.
He is now thriving in the fourth tier of French football, firing in goal after goal for Girondins Bordeaux and just enjoying his football, which has been a brilliant sight for all fans.
It is rather upsetting to hear how much Carroll was struggling during his time at the London Stadium, but considering how long he spent on the medical table, it really comes as no surprise.
Any footballer just wants to be on the pitch, doing their all to help the team, but he was often unable to do that due to the occurrence of a new injury.
Amongst the fans, the forward will forever be remembered for some of his goals scored at both the Boleyn Ground and the London Stadium, especially his incredible overhead bicycle kick against Crystal Palace.
In other West Ham news, Jamie O’Hara has done a Hammers chant live on air, laughing at what a Tottenham fan said.
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