West Ham United: ‘Deluded’ Michail Antonio reacts to ‘Wild’ Liverpool claims
West Ham forward Michail Antonio has apologised to Liverpool and their fans after a “wild” claim earlier in the season that the Hammers could finish above them.
After backing West Ham to beat Jurgen Klopp’s Reds in September, and subsequently losing 3-1 at Anfield, the 33-year-old received a lot of abuse from the Liverpool fans.
Last month, because of continuous online abuse from fans, Antonio doubled down, stating that he did not want Liverpool to win the Premier League this season, but has since issued an apology.
Speaking via BBC’s Footballers’ Football podcast on Thursday (22 February), he said: “At the beginning of the season, I said a comment. It was a bit wild. It was very wild.
“I said that there was a possibility that West Ham could finish above Liverpool this year. I’m not going to lie, I said it with my chest.
“They weren’t gelling at all together, I believed we were going to be sixth or seventh. There were so many stats about Klopp having seven or eight years and then having a blip, it was one of those things.
“I was obviously deluded at the time. So I am going to have to hand out a public apology to the Liverpool fans and the Liverpool players. I take it back.”
Liverpool safe as West Ham United form plummets
At one point in the season, Antonio’s claim would not have been so outlandish as it looks right now, but so much can change so quickly in football.
David Moyes had led the Hammers to sixth in the Premier League, just a handful of points outside the top-four spots. However, a run of six consecutive league matches without a win has seen them slip to ninth.
Liverpool, on the other hand, are leading the division, sitting four points above current Premier League champions Manchester City. That has been the major difference between the two sides this season.
It takes a big man to be able to apologise to a whole fanbase and admit when he is wrong, which Antonio can be commended for. But his comments always had the potential to haunt him at the end of the campaign.
The hope is that the Jamaican international has learned his lesson from this situation with the Liverpool fans, who possess the ability to win the league, which would leave Antonio with even more egg on his face.
In other West Ham news, a BBC Sport chief has shared a new Moyes sack verdict.
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