Ljungberg laughs off Hammers exit talk
by Tom Adams, 27 March 2008
Speaking to setantasports.com, Freddie Ljungberg has laughed off suggestions that he is poised to be the victim of a summer cull at West Ham, with the Sweden star instead stating he is looking forward to an exciting future at the club.
It has been claimed in the national press that Hammers manager Alan Curbishley is actively seeking buyers for the former Arsenal star in a bid to lower the club's substantial wage bill and to help bring through younger players in a nod to the East London club's fine tradition of developing stars of the future.
Whilst conceding that changes may be afoot in the summer if West Ham are to continue on an upwards trajectory, Ljungberg seems assured of his own future given his recent impressive form in the claret and blue.
"That was nice of them!" said Ljungberg to setantasports.com when told of the speculation surrounding his future.
"No not really, we have worked really well and I think I was voted the best player last month so I can't really complain about that.
"Maybe there will be [people leaving], we have a very big squad and maybe they will if they are going to bring in some players.
"But I think whatever the manager does to make the squad better or the team better, that is a good thing."
Ljungberg was a high-profile component of a substantial transfer outlay by Curbishley last summer as the London club, bankrolled by owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, sought to build a side capable of challenging for European football.
That may remain a distant possibility if the Intertoto Cup is taken into account - given West Ham are currently six points behind sixth-placed Portsmouth - but Ljungberg has hinted that the club are ready to continue their investment off the pitch in order to keep progressing.
"I am looking forward to it [next season]. When I joined they said they wanted to build a new team and maybe a little bit like Chelsea did, they are willing to spend the money to make a great side, and that is probably the same thing we will do this summer - spend a bit and go a bit further on.
"But I hope we will still reach Europe [this season] to be honest and that would be great because it is fantastic for the club to get good experience playing in Europe."
After a shocking run of three 4-0 defeats in a row at the start of March, West Ham's season looked to be on the brink of collapse but they responded well by beating Blackburn 2-1 and then drawing 1-1 with Everton at the weekend.
That brief yet damaging blip was enough for manager Alan Curbishley to endure speculation over his future and Ljungberg has rued the speed at which his boss was targeted for criticism.
"He did [get criticism] which was maybe a bit sad," said Ljungberg. "Of course it is never good to concede, three games in a row, 4-0, but that was for one week and before that we played quite well and after we played quite well, so maybe it was a bit too fast with the sledgehammer or the axe!
"To be honest I am disappointed about the Everton game, I think we played quite well and maybe we should have won the game and then definitely we would have been back on track so to speak, but after three four-nils of course it is better.
"But I think we have to look forward, and if we can play like that against Everton and they are fourth or fifth, we should have won the game away, I think we can look forward and look to better things to be honest."