Ogbonna relishing return to FA Cup duty

Angelo Ogbonna celebrates scoring against AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup

 

Angelo Ogbonna knows a thing or two about the FA Cup fourth round.

The Italian made sure his name will go down in West Ham United folklore when he rose above the Liverpool defence to head home a dramatic last-gasp winner against Liverpool at the same stage of the world’s most-famous knockout competition in February 2016.

Three years on from that tie, which was all the more special as it was the penultimate FA Cup tie played at the Boleyn Ground, and Ogbonna is set to return to fourth-round duty at the rather more modest surroundings of AFC Wimbledon’s Kingsmeadow on Saturday evening.

However, the experience will hold no fears for the centre-back, who also scored in West Ham’s 3-1 Carabao Cup second-round win at the same venue at the start of the current campaign.

When you are young, you should never think about money, but about being first in the squad, then in the team, then winning trophies – collective trophies and not individual trophies

Angelo Ogbonna

“We played there and already won there in the other cup, but this is another game in another competition and we want to do well there again,” he confirmed.

“I was fortunate enough to win the Coppa Italia in 2015 during my time with Juventus and I want to win another trophy, this time with West Ham.

“We have a long way to go and we have to play every game on its merits and take things step by step, as I always say.”

For Ogbonna, who also won two Serie A titles and the Supercoppa Italiana with Juventus and reached the 2012 UEFA European Championship final with Italy, his main motivation in football is to add more medals to his already impressive collection.

“When you are young, you should never think about money, but about being first in the squad, then in the team, then winning trophies – collective trophies and not individual trophies,” he insisted.

“Then, if the team plays well and wins things, you can also win individual accolades, but the most important thing is to help your team to win titles.”