Latest News

It was a short and sweet post-match press conference for Nuno Espirito Santo as he reflected on West Ham's defeat on Merseyside.

The Hammers went down 5-2 despite enjoying more possession that the hosts and a higher xG score - much to Santo's bemusement, with the manager admitting finding himself in the strange position of being three goals adrift at half time yet generally happy with his team's performance.

Santo also took question on the return of damaging set pieces, West Ham's attacking intent - and on technical issues with the team bus before the match!




Q: What are your thoughts on the game?

NES: It's hard to explain and maybe it's absurd to say that it's a good performance when you lose 5- 2, but there were a lot of positives in our game. A lot of negative, also. You go off at half time and have your players in front of you. When you say "boys, you are playing good, but we are losing 3-0"! We create a lot of situations, we combined well, but we really made mistakes in our set pieces. Three goals came from corners.

I think the second-half we started well, scored early and created problems for Liverpool. Things that can change the game. Being in front of you guys and saying "that is a good performance" maybe sounds really silly for myself, but this is what I saw. I saw a team that didn't give up, believe that they had a chance in the game, but we go home with a poor result.

Q:

NES: Yeah, it's frustrating as coaching staff, It's something that we've been really putting a lot of effort and time into to try to make it right. I think the beginning of season was [poor], but recently there was a lot of improvement. Today all the three goals, the first three goals all come from corner situations. So there's no other way to look at it [but to] admit that we made mistakes and improve for the next one.

Q:

NES: Yeah. The first half is, I think, the reality of the game. We had chances from Tomas, from Jarrod the first half we combined really, really well. Deflections, I think all the goals, I don't know how many goals comes from deflections. So it's difficult, but you have to recognise when you give space to the quality players of Liverpool, they can they can punish you, they can punish you and they did it so. But a lots a lot of positives, lot of positives I think will require this week. Improvements in those details, but in terms of game, the way the players were. We're organizing and did combine. Confidence.

Q:

NES: Yeah, there was a little a delay. Going out from the hotel the hydraulics system didn't come up and it was scratching [the floor], so everybody out of the bus and release some weight!


* Something to say about this story? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.