There aren’t many things in football quite as brilliant as Adrian’s shootout winning penalty last night.
The Spaniard didn’t just score the penalty to put an end to what has to be one of the most action packed and emotionally draining FA Cup ties the club has been involved in since the final in 2006, he also did it in complete style, oozing class and confidence as he ripped his gloves off during the run up before smashing it past Everton’s Joel Robles. “This ends now!” And it did. In style.
If he wasn’t already becoming a cult hero at the club for his relationship with the fans and his clear passion for the Hammers, then his heroics last night will have undoubtedly ensured he will be remembered for many, many years to come.
It’s the whole ‘gloves off’ thing that transformed it from being just a winning penalty to one of the biggest talking points of the season so far. Football fans all over have been talking about it ever since. Fans of other clubs – rival clubs, in fact – have been praising Adrian’s confidence. His audacity. His class. His “badass” technique.
It was all of the above and more. It was perfect in every single way possible. Looking back at the way it happened, even the most imaginative of script writers would’ve struggled to come up with an ending like that. That’s how good it was.
So here’s just a small snippet of the reaction to Adrian’s ‘gloves off’ penalty against Everton on social media. What a guy.
Adrián's gloves off mid run up penalty reminds me of The Rock taking off the armband before delivering the people's elbow.
— Kevin Gunner (@KevGunner) January 14, 2015
Does that now make an Adrián penalty the most electrifying move in sports entertainment?
— Kevin Gunner (@KevGunner) January 14, 2015
Can we all agree how utterly badass that was from Adrian by throwing his gloves before taking the penalty.
— extremely negative energy (@DoYouEvenMikel) January 14, 2015
Gotta say Adrian looked like such a boss taking his penalty last night
— Dickie ⛈🏀🐍 (@ricardowood997) January 14, 2015
They way Adrian took his gloves off before he hit his penalty. "I'm not going back in goal". #BackYourselfAndDeliver #COYI
— Spencer (@SpencerOwen) January 13, 2015
https://twitter.com/xSamad7/status/555317460250140672
Fantastic arrogance there from Adrián – who channels his inner Ricardo – as he throws the gloves, smiles and scores the deciding penalty.
— Jonas Adnan Giæver (@CheGiaevara) January 13, 2015
https://twitter.com/WeLoveYouWHU/status/555132313378766848
Words can't describe how happy & proud I felt after helping my team to get the win!Unbeliavable,Indescribable,Amazing pic.twitter.com/YJnShzilCv
— Adrián San Miguel (@AdriSanMiguel) January 14, 2015
And on Reddit, fans of clubs all over stopped and recognised Adrian’s heroics. Even the Tottenham fans had no option other than to hold their hands up at the Spaniard’s confidence…
Here’s Adrian’s post match interview. Just look how chuffed he is…
