Jarrod Bowen this week advised how he was moved to intervene when Duth hooligans tried to storm the away finish the place his grandfather was sitting and as we speak, Palmieri backs up his team-mate’s insistence that the gamers needed to intervene.
“Watching their supporters coming after aged folks and kids, we felt it was solely proper that we did one thing to defend them,” he added.
“It was not a good combat, one thing we might simply have a look at and let occur. Clearly, no one likes conditions like that or helps violence, however we needed to go there.
“When [David] Moyes received to the dressing room afterwards, he instantly requested if everyone was OK, if there was anybody damage. Luckily, we have been all effectively. So then he congratulated us and we might correctly have fun the win. In the long run, these unhappy scenes have introduced us even nearer now as a crew.”
Video footage of West Ham fan Chris Knoll combating off the hooligans as terrified supporters stood within the background was one the defining sights of the match and Palmieri turned the newest participant to pay tribute to the person dubbed the ‘Angel of Alkmaar’.
“In fact, we are going to wish to win it for him too,” Emerson Palmieri tells Telegraph Sport.
“No one loved what occurred there [in Alkmaar], however we at all times attempt to look on the brilliant facet of issues and, by happening from his place to defend the households, it actually felt like he [Knollsy] was representing hundreds of West Ham followers. Thilo Kehrer’s girlfriend was sitting simply behind him, so that you see that it was largely ladies and kids in that space.
“It’s a must to acknowledge all his bravery to do this as a result of he wasn’t combating simply two or three guys, however a bunch of ultras and he wasn’t scared. In order that was actually particular what he did, he really represented all of the followers.”
Palmieri was not enjoying that evening however insists the fear has introduced followers and gamers nearer collectively. “Once we received to Alkmaar, the evening earlier than the sport these followers set off fireworks exterior our lodge and didn’t allow us to sleep, so this complete environment started there,” he provides.
“After we booked our place within the ultimate, we noticed him [Knoll] and maybe another man combating on their very own with all these folks. It was then that we thought, ‘Wait, we’ve got to do one thing right here, they’re alone there.’ That was the time after we began leaping the dugout to assist them. It was gamers and followers getting collectively that second,” Palmieri recollects.
Having featured in seven video games throughout West Ham’s run to the Convention League ultimate, Palmieri can be hoping to turn into the primary footballer to finish the set of UEFA membership and worldwide winner’s medals.
The 28-year-old has already received the trophies of the Champions League, Europa League and Tremendous Cup with Chelsea and the Euros with Italy.
“To be trustworthy, I actually by no means considered enjoying at this stage for thus many massive golf equipment, profitable these titles. It simply felt like a actuality too distant for somebody who grew up in Brazil, like one thing unreal, that you just couldn’t obtain. After I moved to Europe [in 2014], I joined Palermo, who had simply been promoted to the Serie A in Italy, so even then it felt distant, however have a look at me now. You at all times must imagine and work onerous,” Palmieri says.
