‘I wished to be Child however I am 94kg’ – Antonio on his Soiled Dancing-inspired celebration
Michail Antonio stands alone on the prime of the checklist of West Ham’s Premier League scorers – so it was becoming he danced with himself below the London Stadium lights on Monday.
After scoring his forty eighth top-flight objective for the Hammers in a 4-1 win over Leicester, the striker celebrated surpassing Paolo di Canio’s file by waltzing with, lifting and kissing a Michail Antonio cardboard cut-out.
It was a Hollywood second for a participant who took the quantity 9 shirt this summer season and can now go down in West Ham folklore for his scoring exploits.
“We have been speaking earlier within the week, and I mentioned ‘ what would be the greatest celebration? Save The Final Dance’,” mentioned Antonio, who prolonged his file to 49 objectives together with his aspect’s fourth of the evening.
“Perhaps anyone might choose me up like Child? However I bought a cardboard cut-out and picked that up.”
Within the delirium of changing into a record-breaker he will be forgiven some confusion, however Antonio might have been mixing up his dance-themed motion pictures – Child, and the enduring raise, are from Nineteen Eighties blockbuster Soiled Dancing somewhat than 2001’s Save The Final Dance.
Whichever movie supplied the inspiration, his supervisor David Moyes was nonplussed by the celebrations.
“It isn’t one thing I am eager on,” he mentioned.
49 – Michail Antonio 47 – Paolo di Canio46 – Mark Noble41 – Carlton Cole37 – Trevor Sinclair33 – Andy Carroll29 – Frederic Kanoute24 – John Hartson24 – Frank Lampard23 – Tony Cottee
Though the previous Manchester United boss was happier with Antonio’s efficiency.
“I am actually happy,” mentioned Moyes. “I used to be upset with the way in which he performed within the first half however he did sufficient to close the supervisor up after what I mentioned to him at half-time.”
The 31-year-old’s two objectives – which each got here within the closing 10 minutes – have been glorious. For the primary he spun Caglar Soyuncu earlier than slotting residence and the second noticed him flick the ball over two defenders earlier than stabbing residence.
“Michail Antonio was unplayable,” mentioned BBC Radio 5 Reside pundit Chris Sutton, who was at London Stadium. “This was a masterclass. It was the proper centre-forward efficiency.”
Antonio mentioned: “It sounds stunning to be known as West Ham’s prime Premier League scorer. I really feel like within the first half it affected how I used to be taking part in however the gaffer caned me at half-time and I performed usually and managed to get my objectives.”
West Ham 4-1 Leicester: David Moyes praises Michail Antonio on ‘unbelievable evening’
The ‘soccer didn’t start in 1992’ crew will need us to level out Antonio’s file is for the Premier League period solely. Vic Watson scored 298 league objectives for West Ham between 1920 and 1935 (326 in all competitions).
Geoff Hurst managed 180 league objectives (249 in all competitions) with a number of different gamers having handed the 100 mark. Antonio has 51 objectives in all competitions for West Ham.
He has been West Ham’s prime – or joint prime – scorer in every of the previous two seasons, and in 2016-17 as effectively. He has had extra pictures (11) than anyone else within the Premier League this season.
In that point many strikers have come and gone, together with Jordan Hugill, Albian Ajeti, Lucas Perez, Sebastien Haller, Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic.
Antonio’s achievements are even higher if you take a look at his soccer journey.
He has by no means performed worldwide soccer at any degree, and began his profession with Tooting & Mitcham United within the Isthmian League Premier Division.
He joined West Ham as a winger from Nottingham Forest in 2015 – and completed his first season on the membership as a right-back.
“I am by no means completely satisfied getting only one objective,” he mentioned. “I do not need anybody catching me by the point I depart right here. I need to be up there in folklore ceaselessly.”
