West Ham’s David Moyes ripped into Michail Antonio – and was “not keen” on celebration

West Ham’s David Moyes ripped into Michail Antonio – and was “not keen” on his celebration according to reports overnight.

It was a night to remember if you were a Hammers supporter, the same could be said for record breaker Michail Antonio who was the star of the show.

West Ham hammered Leicester 4-1, and despite being impressed with Antonio’s performance, there was one thing that didn’t impress manager David Moyes at the final whistle.

What a celebration 😂😂
Michail Antonio ❤️ Michail Antonio pic.twitter.com/UdyzaYU26J

— Soccer AM (@SoccerAM) August 23, 2021

The East London outfit now sit top of the Premier League table for just the second time in their history after Monday night’s victory against the Foxes at the London Stadium.

Moyes’s side showed just how dominant they can get, going 1-0 up midway through the first half when Pablo Fornals turned the ball home thanks to top work from Said Benrahma.

Benrahma then made it two after Ayoze Perez was sent off for a ‘horrific’ tackle, before Antonio’s late double saw him become the club’s leading scorer in the top tier of English football.

Antonio went on to claim the man-of-the-match award for his superb second-half display, and Moyes revealed after the game that the striker ‘shut him up’ after their half-time team talk.

“I’m really pleased”, Moyes said.

“I was disappointed with the way he played in the first half but he didn’t half shut the manager up after what I said to him at half-time.”

Quizzed on exactly what was said in the dressing room, the Hammers boss played down his comments: “Oh no, just manager and player talking,” Moyes added.

🗣”He did shut the manager up, but it is not something I’m keen on.” 🤣

David Moyes reveals Michail Antonio listened to his advice at half-time, but did not approve of his cardboard cutout celebration. pic.twitter.com/D9dMl7NzV4

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 23, 2021

Antonio celebrated his first goal in a unique manner, running over to the touchline and holding onto a life-size cardboard cut-out of himself, before holding it up above him and dancing in circles with it, kissing it and finally pushing it away.

The packed London Stadium crowd loved it – but Moyes wasn’t a fan.

“It’s not something I’m keen on,” he said.

The striker explained after the win that it was a homage to 1980s film Dirty Dancing, although his references weren’t quite as accurate as his finishing.

“So basically, I’m thinking I’m gonna get this record, I’ve not been celebrating of late because of VAR but I’m making history so I’ve got to make it special,” he told Sky Sports

“I started off doing celebrations so I’ve got to finish doing celebrations. Did any of you get what celebration it was by the way? Save the last dance, the little lift at the end!”

“I thought maybe I can run to someone, someone can pick me up and I can be Baby. I wanted to be Baby but then I realised I’m 94kg, no-one’s really going to be Babying me.”

“So I decided to do it to myself, get a cardboard cut-out of myself and lift it up in the air.”

Player ratings

West Ham: Fabianski (7), Coufal (7), Dawson (7), Ogbonna (7), Cresswell (7), Rice (8), Soucek (7), Bowen (7), Benrahma (7), Fornals (8), Antonio (9).

Subs: Noble, Yarmolenko (n/a).

Leicester: Schmeichel (5), Ricardo (5), Amartey (5), Soyuncu (3), Thomas (4), Tielemans (6), Ndidi (4), Perez (3), Maddison (5), Barnes (5), Vardy (5).

Subs: Daka (5), Iheanacho, Soumare (n/a).

Man of the match: Michail Antonio

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers said after the game: “I was proud of the players’ mentality and spirit. We made mistakes and got punished.

“After 65 minutes, we’re still in the game, 2-1, we then are looking to make some changes to keep fighting. We stayed in it against a good side, and then conceded the third goal which made it very difficult. Michail’s finished his two goals very well, and we lose the game 4-1.”

🗣”I want you to guess what it is.” 🤔

🗣”You have not had a kiss for a while.” 🤣

Michail Antonio reveals where the idea for his record goal celebration came from with a cardboard cutout of himself and makes @GNev2 and @Carra23 guess it. pic.twitter.com/MdAy5EWvVj

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 23, 2021

Fans reacted as reports say West Ham’s David Moyes ripped into Michail Antonio – and was “not keen” on his celebration…

@Toby_Fletcher: Antonio’s celebration was quality, so unsurprisingly, David Moyes is “not a fan” of it 😂😴

@hammers4workand: Love Moyes honesty regarding Antonio. Saying he had a “few choice words with him over his first half display” In MOYES I trust

@Laastroweyn: Good to see a footballer with a personality on interviews unlike those generic interviews from most of the players do

@SteveBradshaw81: Breath of fresh air.

@NStampar: You genuinely cannot help but adore this man

@SG_EFC: comes across as one sound bloke tbf to him.. other than his taste in films like..

@TomK___: Some guy – great depth in that West Ham squad for an interview, few can boast options like him and Rice

@kazzie89: Refreshing to see a player so enthusiastic and not relaying the same media training over and over. Enjoy the game and share that love!

@TomCunningham75: Such a likeable guy

@geordiegaz83: Got to love Antonio, always smiling and just loves football 👏

@JamesCollen9: What a man he is

@GCP1989: Great character, beautiful second goal with the flick 👌 #WHULEI

@MTrenardSikse: Love this guy man

@ash_thompson88: How can you not like this guy? Seems like such a nice bloke, it’s great to see a footballer with a personality.

@dboetan7i: Early days, but West Ham look very strong. Beating Leicester as comfortably as they did is not easy at all, and what a guy Michail Antonio is. Really enjoyed watching this interview.

@Rob_Dawson93: How brilliant to see some genuine personality from a player. There are others but very few. Seems a genuinely decent guy and a bloody top player too!

@keepit_Plasse: All I see here is a player who’s bought in to the system. The quote about the running stats – faith in the manager, faith in the players. It’s beautiful thing to see and I love to see a new face in the top 4

@Romevoice: Most players out there play footy as if it is a chore. Antonio always has a smile on and ready to put on a show. People have diff personalities which is fine but compare antonio to a supposedly ‘top’ player like martial who always seems as if he doesn’t want to play football.