Manager Francesco Guidolin once brought a rifle into the changing room to motivate his side to beat West Ham.
That’s according to goalkeeper Federico Agliardi, who has recounted the tale via the outlet Palermo Today.
First, travel back to the 2006/2007 UEFA Cup. West Ham were facing the Italian side in the first round of the competition.
After a 1-0 defeat at home courtesy of a goal from Andrea Caracciolo, the Hammers headed to Italy looking to turn things around.
Boosted by the English media, who had been fighting their cause and ‘charging the atmosphere’, the belief was that the Premier League side would advance.
Tensions are raised by issues outside of the ground as fans, or ‘hooligans’ according to the website, clash in Palermo and cause a ‘heated match’.
This, apparently, was carried through to the dressing room, where Guidolin used an unusual strategy to motivate his players.
“The eve of the return match of the UEFA Cup between West Ham and Palermo,” Agliardi is quoted as saying.
“Coach Guidolin entered our locker room and, from a large duffel bag, suddenly pulled out a rifle to the cry of ‘In the first leg, the English, we only wounded them. Now we have to kill them for good’…”
It was a strategy that worked, with Palermo running out as 3-0 winners in an ‘eloquent victory’.
Unfortunately, it turned out to be the highlight of that campaign as the Italians crashed out in the group stages by finishing behind Newcastle, Celta Vigo and Fenerbahce in Group H.
In the end that didn’t matter, though, with that win and shotgunning of West Ham still remembered to this day.
