Sebastien Haller opens up on failed West Ham spell
Sebastien Haller has suggested why his spell at West Ham didn’t work for him, but he didn’t blame anyone for his situation.
Haller was let go by West Ham in the January window of 2021 at a loss of £25m after 13 months at the club.
While the Hammers failed to sign another striker since then, Hallers has become a huge hit at Ajax, where he has managed 10 goals in the Champions League this season.
The 27-year-old has explained that he was never a fit in Manuel Pellegrini’s system while David Moyes preferred Michail Antonio over him.
He said to The Guardian: “I was brought in by Manuel Pellegrini but then David Moyes came and we got in a situation where we were … like trapped together.
“I was playing in a system that I didn’t really enjoy. Moyes preferred someone like [Michail] Antonio up front, and I’m super happy he [Antonio]’s doing so well; I am for all the guys at West Ham. I had a good time there with them but I was also really mad at the situation, [with] the way we were playing, the way I was playing, the way I was feeling …”
Striker issue
Interestingly, West Ham have failed to sign a striker since Haller left the club.
The Hammers failed to find a replacement while three transfer windows have passed in between.
Haller has moved on and he is scoring goals for fun. The Hammers have progressed as well under Moyes and they are aiming to break into the top four this season.
However, it is their inability to sign a striker in January that could hurt the club badly.
Michail Antonio remains the only striker at the club, and he is going through a barren spell in front of goal.
The problem for Moyes is he cannot drop him as he doesn’t have any other option left.
Luckily for the Hammers, Jarrod Bowen has stepped up with goals and assists. The left-footed winger is enjoying the form of his life, and at times, he is single-handedly carrying the team forward.
In other West Ham news, Jack Wilshere says it was a dream to sign for the Irons in 2018 having joined his new club in Denmark.