Julen Lopetegui dedicated a crucial victory to Michail Antonio after West Ham set aside the striker's horrific car crash and saved their manager's job by defeating Wolves 2-1 on an emotional night. Antonio, who is recovering in hospital following surgery for a broken leg, was in good spirits and managed to speak to his teammates via video link before the match. The buildup to the game had been challenging for West Ham, who were deeply affected by news of Antonio's accident on Saturday afternoon. Lopetegui, who had been on the brink of being sacked, recognized the importance of a win that increased the pressure on Wolves' manager, Gary O'Neil.
"We are happy for the fans," West Ham's manager said. "Above all, we dedicate the victory to Michail and his family. It has been very tough. We love Michail a lot. He is a special person. He is strong, and I am sure he is going to overcome this and come back. The best thing we can do today is get the victory. We are very happy for the three points." West Ham paid tribute to their teammate with special training tops, and Jarrod Bowen, who scored the winning goal, revealed a shirt with Antonio's name on the back after his goal. The pre-match conversation with Antonio also provided inspiration.
"We had one bit of contact with him," Lopetegui said. "He was happy to do this. He was not in his best moment, but despite this, he kept his humour. It was a special moment for us before the match. We have a lot of reasons to win matches, but this is special. He had a big accident, but he has the possibility to come back. He is alive, and we are happy because the pictures were terrible. We have to enjoy our professional life. It can change in one moment. We have to focus on our daily work. Sometimes it is hard. It is a good example for my young players." O'Neil, whose side remains in the bottom three, vowed to keep fighting. However, there is a strong possibility that Wolves will sack the 41-year-old on Tuesday. "I understand the noise and scrutiny," O'Neil said. "We were tipped to be relegated last season, and we achieved some unbelievable things. The players are giving everything. They're still fighting for me. Still fighting for the fans. I'm disappointed."
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