West Ham United defender Angelo Ogbonna has admitted the intensity of the club’s training has increased since David Moyes’ appointment – even comparing it to the standards set at his former employer Juventus.
The Hammers have had the last fortnight during the international break to get to know their new manager, with the Scotsman given the challenge of turning the team’s fortunes around.
Moyes has been vocal about his desire to get the squad working harder and wearing their hearts on a West Ham sleeve – something the supporters will hope happens after a lack of focus so far this season.
The Hammers will play their first game under their new manager on Sunday with a trip to face Watford and if Ogbonna’s comments are anything to go by, the Irons will be ready to play for a positive result at Vicarage Road.
“It is fair to say the intensity of training has increased and I think we needed that,” the Italy international told the West Ham official website.
“In the Premier League, our squad is really good, but we need to play as a team and our squad can make a difference up front and at the back.
“When I see our training today, it’s really close to Italian training. It’s really similar to Italian or Spanish training, tactical work but with the ball.
“When I spoke with Pedro Obiang and the other players, they said ‘Yes, it’s not just English training, but international’ and that’s why I say it is an evolution.
“If I compare it to Serie A and my time in Juventus, it is really similar. We started with double sessions like I was doing a couple of years ago in Italy.”
Although the majority of Moyes’ managerial career has been in the United Kingdom, a short stint at Real Sociedad in Spain could well have played a role in the ‘international training’ methods that Ogbonna speaks of.
For West Ham, it is difficult to know what a successful outing at Vicarage Road looks like.
For the team to show more heart, commitment and solidarity than it has done of late would be an excellent start – and the minimum the fans expect.
While few expect West Ham to be completely transformed tactically or technically in Moyes’ first game in charge, the attitude of the players will be critical to assessing if Ogbonna’s praise for the manager’s training are being heeded by more than just him.