David Moyes highlighted the importance of addressing the team’s shortcomings, especially with the crucial second leg against Bayer Leverkusen looming. Despite the disappointing result, Moyes acknowledged the team’s strong start in the match and lamented missed opportunities that could have changed the game’s dynamics.
Regarding Lucas Paqueta’s recent performances, Moyes expressed a nuanced view. While recognizing Paqueta’s contributions to the team, Moyes also emphasized the need for consistency and effectiveness in every player’s performance. He hinted at a balance between giving players freedom on the pitch and holding them accountable for their contributions to the team’s success.
The incident involving young midfielder George Earthy cast a somber mood over the match. Making his Premier League debut, Earthy’s promising start was cut short by a heavy head collision with teammate Edson Alvarez. The concern from both teams, with Fulham manager Marco Silva rushing to check on the youngster, highlighted the camaraderie and sportsmanship in football.
Moyes provided an update on Earthy’s condition, indicating that while the midfielder was taken to the hospital for checks, he was awake and communicating, offering a glimmer of relief amid the tense atmosphere.
Regarding Jarrod Bowen’s potential return for the upcoming fixture, Moyes remained uncertain, citing ongoing improvements in Bowen’s condition but refraining from making any definitive statements until further updates were available. The uncertainty surrounding Bowen’s availability added another layer of complexity to Moyes’s tactical considerations for the upcoming match.
Reflecting on the broader implications of the defeat, Moyes emphasized the missed opportunity to climb higher in the Premier League standings, particularly with the chance to surpass Manchester United and secure a sixth-place position. The absence of Bowen’s influence on the field was felt keenly, highlighting the importance of key players in the team’s success.
Speaking to the press after the defeat, Moyes said: “I’m gutted, today was a great chance to go sixth with five games to go, great position to be in. We gave the ball away in the midfield and it opened us up and we were punished.
“I thought we started well. For the first 20 minutes I thought we played well. We should have been one or two goals up before they scored. I didn’t think they got forward that often in the opening period.
We got caught out with a long ball, we didn’t deal with it in the first bit, second bit we certainly didn’t deal with it. We had a couple of big opportunities to score ourselves which would have changed the dynamic of the game a bit.”
David Moyes indirectly blaming his midfielders, attackers for costing the team on the afternoon.
Despite the disappointment, Moyes remained focused on addressing the team’s weaknesses and optimizing their performance, especially with crucial fixtures on the horizon. The defeat served as a reminder of the competitive nature of the Premier League and the need for consistency and resilience to achieve success.
When asked about his recent performances – including his display against Bayer Leverkusen which saw him receive a booking, thus suspending him in next week’s home clash – Moyes said of the Brazilian: “Now and again you get players like this, not had them too often.
“Sometimes you have to give them a bit of licence but today, the licence he gets didn’t give us anything. it probably punished us in some ways. He’s someone who we really like, he’s done a great job for us but today it didn’t work for us.
Moyes was then questioned on whether he will accept Paqueta’s recent drop in form to which he admitted: “It shouldn’t but there is a little bit of acceptance. But it shouldn’t because I wouldn’t accept it from all the players.”
Moyes can confirm, however, that the young midfielder is awake and talking. “I’m really disappointed for George,” Moyes added. “He’s been doing really well in training and he actually started well with the ball, had some really nice touches. He’s fine, we believe it’s a head knock. He’s awake, he’s talking. He’s gone to hospital so they will get the checks done.”
The Scotsman also noted that there was as yet no update on whether his star striker Bowen will be able to return for Thursday’s clash. “I have no idea,” Moyes said. “He’s improving, but I have no idea.”
As Moyes and his team regrouped after the defeat, their attention turned to the challenges ahead, with the Leverkusen clash looming large on the horizon.
With lessons learned from the Fulham match, Moyes and his coaching staff would undoubtedly analyze the performance, identify areas for improvement, and work diligently to ensure a stronger showing in the upcoming fixtures.