Moyes praises 'character' and 'resilience'

  • by Staff Writer
  • Saturday, 4th December 2021

Hammers boss Davis Moyes was full of praise for his team after they became only the second team to beat Chelsea this season.

The manager praised his team's determination and endeavour in the wake of United's 3-2 defeat of the west London rivals, who went into the game with a 1-0 defeat against Manchester City as their only reversal in all competitions so far this season.


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"We might have gone behind twice but we kept ourselves in it throughout," he said during his post-match press conference.

"We showed great character and resilience. We stuck at it and made the point of trying not to go 3-1 down, making sure we had to chance to be in the game. And we certainly were: we played better.

"We changed one or two things at half-time just to see if we could give ourselves a bit more attacking [impetus] - and it did.

"It was another memorable game against Chelsea," he continued. "It’s nearly up there with the one when Yarmolenko scored for us to beat Chelsea 3-2 which [helped to] keep us in the Premier League.

"It’s another 3-2 victory today. Yarmolenko’s goal that day was so important and we hope that come the end of the season, Arthur’s goal today will be seen to be important too."

And when asked whether he felt Masuaku meant to find the net, Moyes replied: "It was a great cross!

"You have to get the ball in the box. We've all seen other types of goals from crosses where it has dipped over the goalkeeper in the back post and different things.

"So we have to say it is a bit of a lucky goal - but in midweek VAR went against us and we didn't get a goal to make it 2-0. For the life of me I cannot see how that was ruled out. So you have take what you get in football - and today we got that goal to win 3-2."

And on becoming the first team to score three times against Chelsea since relegated West Bromwich Albion smashed five past the west Londoners last April, Moyes admitted the penalty decision in the first half was pivotal to setting his team on the way.


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"Nobody had scored three goals against Chelsea in the Premier League this season before and that’s what we can do," he said. "That’s why West Ham are good to watch and that’s why I’m enjoying it as well.

"My team look as if they’re a threat and that’s how I want it. I actually don’t think we played any better today than we played against Brighton or Wolves, but in the moments we got we took our chances and it gave us a real opportunity.

"Getting the penalty kick at that point of the game was really important as well."

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