West Ham confident heading into tough match

Thomas Hitzlsperger is hoping West Ham replicate their Carling Cup performance against Manchester United earlier in the season when the pair face-off this Saturday at Upton Park.

The Hammers thrashed the Premier League leaders 4-0 in the quarter-finals in late November, as United suffered their first defeat of the season.

Although injured, the German international watched the game from the stands and will use the experience as inspiration for this weekend’s clash.

“I am just looking back to the Carling Cup game, that was a fantastic game for us,” Hitzlsperger said.

“I saw that one and it was a fabulous performance, so if we look back on that one, we know that we can beat them if we are playing to our strengths.”

The Hammers have certainly been doing that of late, suffering just two defeats from their last seven matches.

“If we are playing well we can beat them, but they are the best team in the country at the moment and it won’t be an easy afternoon,” he said.

“I am in a good mood, so are the other players and therefore it should be a good afternoon.

“Confidence is quite high at the moment. Recent results have been good apart from the FA Cup game at Stoke, so therefore the atmosphere is quite good and hopefully it will be the same after the game on Saturday.”

West Ham’s good run of results has coincided with Hitzlsperger’s return to the team and defeat against Stoke is the only time the former Lazio man has played in a losing side.

His calmness on the ball, defence splitting passes and wonder goals has made the man known as Der Hammer an instant hero to the Hammers faithful.

“I’m happy with the way it is going after such a long injury, I didn’t really know what to expect,” said Hitzlsperger who didn’t make his debut until late February after hamstring trouble.

“But in four of the games I have played 90 minutes, and in the other one 70 minutes, so it is more than I expected to be fair. I’m quite happy with the way things are going, I’ve scored goals, set a few up so I couldn’t have dreamed of any better start really, but there is still a long way to go and plenty of space to improve and I am working on that and hopefully by the end of the season I can get even better and help the team to stay up.”