West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini has said that Samir Nasri transformed the Hammers’ fortunes after coming on against Huddersfield at the weekend.
The Frenchman replaced Mark Noble on the hour mark with the score still 2-1. The Terriers then went 3-1 up prior to the Irons staging a dramatic comeback.
Nasri provided the assist for Javier Hernandez’s equaliser before the Mexican headed in the winner during injury time. Pellegrini says Nasri’s contribution was pivotal in the 4-3 win:
“I also think Samir Nasri changed the game of our team and Lucas Perez was always dangerous in the box, so the three substitutes did very well and that’s the reason why you need a good squad.”
Fans on Twitter were completely in agreement with the West Ham boss. They are hoping the 31-year-old’s contract is extended beyond the end of the current campaign:
100% sign him for next season #coyi
— ⚒ Marky Perkins ⚒ (@Supagrova1973) 16 March 2019
Nasri needs to play a head of Noble, need more creativity up front, one holding mid should be enough, especially at home.
— Mike Patel (@MukeshMikePatel) 16 March 2019
Was class when he came on ?
— Ashley. (@AshleyWHUFC) 16 March 2019
Love this Geezer ⚒⚒⚒
— Damien Caesar (@DamienCaesar) 17 March 2019
Have to agree with that great intervention and cross for the equaliser ?
— David Bull (@Bully61) 17 March 2019
Love Antonio, but we need to see an Arnautovic, Nasri, Lanzini start. They will feed each other much better.
— Charles Thorn (@CharlesAThorn) 17 March 2019
Needed movement and needed to move the ball far quicker, Nasri provided that. Tick tock, tick tock.
— Anthony O’Donnell (@todpolarbear) 17 March 2019
Well played that man coyi
— Christine Cole (@ChrisineCole) 17 March 2019
Nasri needs to be kept for us to move forward.
Forget his age hes had time off for his body to repair at the perfect time.
He can be good a worthy investment for a fee years yet imo— ⚒️PCDC_Dominator (@TAC_Dominator) 17 March 2019
Proves Lanzini and Nasri can both play at the same time . O n sick of Antonio shooting from 30 yards , all it does it break down our attacks . ⚒️
— ToneHammer (@tone_hammer) 16 March 2019
Of course, having to come from two goals down at home against a team who are doomed to be relegated doesn’t sound particularly impressive, but the character and spirit showed by the players were certainly positives.
As Pellegrini also mentions, the Irons now have the squad depth to change tack when it is clear things aren’t going well. After the last-gasp win, the London club are now two points off seventh, although they have played a game more than Wolves.
