West Ham United fell just short in the FA Cup quarter final against Leeds United. The Hammers mustered a stoppage time comeback to take the game into extra time and even had the ball in the back of the net twice during that period.
Unfortunately for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men they would be forced into the lottery of a penalty shootout where Leeds would come out on top.
The West Ham boss told the club’s official website that the result would be difficult to take, not just for him and his players but most of all, the fans.
“It was a very emotional game from the beginning till the end.
“For the boys, it’s sad, it’s sad, it’s sad for us, especially for our fans, the way they saw the second half, us reacting, chasing the game, creating the best chances, hitting balls in the post.
“I think we did enough to avoid the penalty shootout, but today was not to be.
“In the previous round we came through to the penalty shootout and we said that we were efficient, but today we were not so efficient.
“But the way we reacted in the game itself, the way we chased the game, it’s the proof that we don’t give up and we have a big, big mission on our hands [in the Premier League].”
West Ham have the fight to stay up this season
Despite the difficult end at the London Stadium, Nuno acknowledged that the fight West Ham showed has to be sustained if they want to secure survival in the Premier League this season.
“That’s what is required for the job that we have to keep going until the end.
“Now it’s time to recover. It’s 120 minutes, it’s tough. We’ll try to recover our players and play the game on Friday.
“Again, London Stadium is going to be so important for us. The atmosphere that we created today, we have to create it for the game, for the matches moving forward.
“We need it, we need it, we need it. We need all the players. That’s the proof. The third goalkeeper [Finlay Herrick] came in the game. We’re going to need all the players, all the players and all the fans that can help us.”
Focus now returns to the league. The Hammers host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday night in a massive game in the survival fight.
“We’re going to be ready for Wolves on Friday. Now it’s the moment to recover the legs, clear our minds.
“It’s sad, it’s going to last, but it can only last this evening. Tomorrow morning we have to get up and be ready for the fight.”
