By Sam Tonks
The build-up to a West Ham and Tottenham encounter is exciting, nostalgic and full of pride, to win bragging rights in the rivalry. In advance of this fixture, the focus remained in Leicester, with football in mourning following the weekend's tragic events.
Manuel Pellegrini began his pre-match press conference by expressing his condolences to Leicester City and the families of the casualities.
“On behalf of my staff and the players, I send our thoughts and best wishes to the families of the five victims, and to everyone at Leicester City,†said Pellegrini.
“Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha led the club to one of the greatest achievements in the modern game, one that will always be remembered, and leaves a lasting legacy.Â
“It is a great loss for the city of Leicester and for English football, and I am sure that everyone inside London Stadium on Wednesday evening will pay their respects in a fitting manner.â€
Onto Wednesday evening and the matter of a local derby in the Carabao Cup fourth-round. Spurs were narrow victors in their league meeting nearly two weeks ago and the manager insists another close game is expected. The sides also met in this fixture last season, this time the Hammers overcoming their city rivals at Wembley.
“We were unlucky to lose against them in the Premier League but they have a very good squad and I expect it to be another close and difficult game,†he said.
“As I have said previously, the Carabao Cup is a major competition that we take very seriously, and we have been on the training pitch since Sunday preparing our work and focusing on what we need to do to come out on top.â€
Grady Diangana was the star of their 8-0 third-round romp against Macclesfield earlier in this competition, and has continued his path to first-team squad member, making his full-league debut at Leicester on Saturday.
He was introduced off the bench in the league encounter, replacing the unfortunate Andriy Yarmolenko, and the 20-year-old is adjusting to life fast.
“I’m just trying to get as many games and minutes as possible, and show the manager and the world what I can do,†he said.
“You can always do more, but I’ve done what I have done for the team in my games so far and tried my best off the ball and on the ball.â€
As for team news, captain Mark Noble carries out the first of a three-game suspension after his red card at the weekend, and Pedro Obiang is a doubt as he looks to recover from a knock.
