West Ham United's Michail Antonio has said that The Hammers intend to make the Olympic Stadium "a fortress."
Making themselves at home
West Ham's stay at the Boleyn Ground ended last season after a 116-year association, they will move to Olympic Stadium ahead the new season. The 60,000-seater stadium has proven popular, with 50,000 season tickets already and despite the difficulties of the move, Antonio believes that the club can build a new stronghold away from Upton Park.
He told Standard Sport that the move will be "weird at first" as the Boleyn is "West Ham's history" and the club's "entire past" has been there.
Antonio continued saying that they make it their "home" and "a fortress" and said that it doesn't matter "when or where" he is playing, he will "give 100 per cent" and is hopeful that he can keep "pushing on" with his performances.
Special moment
Antonio struggled for opportunities in the first half of the season, but finished one of the side's best performers managing eight goals in his 26 league appearances.
One of those goals came in the final game at the Boleyn Ground with the 3-2 win over Manchester United, and Antonio admitted that it was special moment for him. He said that been able to say that he was "one of the last players" to score at the iconic ground is a "great achievement." Antonio continued saying that it is "something" that he'll always hold and that the team "felt the nerves" to "get the victory" so they could "send the fans home happy."
Talking about his season, Antonio said that it has had "so many ups and downs" and started the season "quite slow" and was "hardly getting any game time." He continued saying that he "finally" got his opportunity back in December and got back to how he was "originally playing."
West Ham United will host Juventus at the Olympic Stadium in the Betway Cup on Sunday, August 7 with kick-off at 1pm BST.