Zola on ... Wigan

  • by Staff Writer
  • Thursday, 5th March 2009

Gianfranco Zola looks ahead as the Hammers take one more small step towards European qualification ...

On a Goal of the Season contender...

I was really buzzing when it happened. I think the build-up was fantastic and the finish on the same level. I'm pleased because the team deserved that as they were playing very well and just a goal was missing. But you could smell it in the air and it was very important for us.

On referee Stuart Attwell...

We have to understand that the referee is there, he's a human being and sometimes they can make mistakes. He needs our support for the time and it happens that you might have a bad day, you might make a decision that's not accepted by the opposition but they are there to do a job and we need to make sure that they are comfortable with the job they do.

On Carlton Cole's dismissal - and Lucas Neill's yellow card...

I think it was too much. I thought neither the first or second [Cole] challenges were bad tackles at all. Unfortunately the referee saw them that way. The red cards? For Cattermole I think it was a bad tackle - as was the one by Lucas Neill on Cattermole again. All I can say having spoken to him [Lucas] is that it seems he wanted to go for the ball. he just touched the ball but as he was sliding he caught the man. It was a bad tackle anyway.

On Cole's potential ban....

That's the reason I went to talk to him [the referee]. I just said that knowing Carlton Cole he's not a man who makes bad tackles. All I said is that he didn't even look at the man, he had his eyes on the ball all the time so I think the second one was a little bit too much.

The referee said that from his position it looked bad, simple as that. But he accepted my explanation and said he will have a look later and decide [whether to reverse the decision]. I said sometimes even if you make a mistake you can still go back [on it]. It's up to him, he will have a look and he will decide.

On Jack Collison...

We were worried because it looked very bad and he was in so much pain. But I've had a chat with him and the doctor just now and it doesn't look that bad so hopefully it's not going to be too serious.

On qualifying for next season's Europa League...

I can assure you we are very serious about it, as we proved today. The players enjoy what they are doing, they're playing really well and for the moment they deserve what they have.

The players love what they are doing and they are enjoying their football. There's nothing better than that, it's a great feeling to have a team that are enjoying what they're doing. They work hard, and as a manager I feel lucky.

* Gianfranco was talking to the BBC.

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