David Moyes accepts West Ham lacked ‘mental toughness’ in thrashing at Chelsea
David Moyes said West Ham lacked “mental toughness” as the pressure on his job intensified with a 5-0 thrashing at Chelsea.
Reports have suggested that the club are lining up former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui to replace the 61-year-old, whose contract is up at the end of the season, and his cause was not helped by a Stamford Bridge capitulation in which their slim hopes of qualifying for Europe for a fourth straight season were effectively ended.
Moyes, who saw his team concede five goals for the second Premier League away game in a row, having gone down 5-2 at Crystal Palace on April 21, is set to hold talks with the board over his future after the Hammers’ final league match on May 19.
“Not good,” he said of his team’s display in west London. “Lacking toughness, leadership, mental toughness. That’s two games we’ve come away where we’ve conceded five.
“The manager will always take the responsibility, that’s what happens when you do this job. You have to prepare them, set them up.
“But somewhere along the line the players have to take responsibility for doing their jobs and being hard to play against, and being aggressive and competitive. I question if we were all that in the first half.”
Long before half-time, West Ham looked a beaten side, standing off Chelsea and allowing their forward players all the space they needed to pick their way through and plunder Alphonse Areola’s goal.
Cole Palmer scored the first, his 21st of the season in the league, capitalising when Kurt Zouma’s half-clearance landed at his feet, before Conor Gallagher volleyed brilliantly into the corner from a loose ball.
Noni Madueke nodded in the third, reacting quickest at the back post after Thiago Silva’s header flashed across goal from a corner.
And he passed up the chance to add to his personal tally when he unselfishly squared for Nicolas Jackson to tap in two minutes into the second half, as West Ham’s torrid afternoon showed no sign of easing.
They were unlucky not to register at least a consolation. It was an indictment of their misfortune that Jarrod Bowen struck the crossbar not once but three times, but it would not have substantially altered the feeling around this most comprehensive defeat.
Jackson completed their humiliation with his second late on to leave Moyes’ situation looking increasingly uncertain.
“Too many poor things within the game,” he said. “It’s happened several times this season, which I’ve certainly not enjoyed. I didn’t enjoy today at all.
“Players not in positions, running out of position and opening up to easily. I thought the second half we actually made it harder for them to score, but we gave away two ridiculous goals in the second half.”
Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino, whose side are now seventh and in contention for European qualification, reflected on an accomplished afternoon as the Blues made it 22 goals in their last six home matches.
“I’m so pleased,” he said. “It continues the same feelings after Thursday (the 2-0 win over Tottenham). It keeps the momentum. I think the performance was fantastic in all aspects.”
“A few weeks ago I said I was so happy because we were so close to being in this position. That is the first step.
“After Tottenham, I said the way that we competed was fantastic. Then to give this momentum, the team is growing up very fast now. That is the minimum standard if we want to compete in this league.
“The objective for us is to be mature and to keep the momentum. To compete and keep improving every single game. Of course we are going to try to be in Europe. It will be good for the team and for the players to be in Europe next season.”