David Moyes
Could you believe Jarrod Bowen missed the chance at the end?
I can’t see why he would not head it instead of chest it in. I can understand if it is a decision between your feet and head sometimes you might decide that but I cannot see the decision between the chest and your head. But Jarrod scored a great goal today and has done a lot of good things for us and it happens. We should not have been in that position in the first place but for lots of different reasons we were.
Did fatigue play a role today?
I think it was a huge factor today. We had Leeds in the cup and in the league game and because of how Leeds play with a high energy game. We did not agree with why we had to play Norwich when we did. We missed one game and not by our doing and we were made to go again at this point in the season. We had a busy Christmas period like everybody else, like Leeds but Leeds have two games to play and were not asked to play midweek but we were. I cannot understand it and it only tells me that the people making those decisions do not understand what recovery means, what it means to play games on a regular basis and the people putting the games are getting that wrong for sure.
Was there an explanation why the Norwich game was moved and have you asked for any to be moved?
No. With we had available vs Norwich we had Covid and injuries and a player at the Africa Nations as well but I wanted us to keep going, I did not see any reason [why not]. Today was really tough for us to get back out so we did not feel the Norwich game should have been put in but they refused our request. We played as it had an effect today.
How close was Zouma to playing today?
Not at all as he because he is only just recovering from COVID.
What did you think of the North London Derby being postponed? Do you think the rules are being abused?
I don’t really care about that because maybe we are not being tough enough, maybe I am not being tough enough in saying we could have done with the game against Norwich being off and we could have fought harder for it. Maybe I will have to do that in the future because it put us under pressure to play today, Leeds had a full week to prepare but still have two games to play and us only one so I cannot see why they did that. But it is done and I can’t put the result solely down to that. It is down to us not playing well, making mistakes, missing chances. The opening 15/20 minutes showed enough of what we were carrying over from midweek.
Michail Antonio looked tired today after three games in a week.
We noticed that as well. But it is difficult when you have to play. He is one of our key goalscorers. We were chasing the game from 15 minutes in and it was really difficult to change him. He was out on his legs after the game but again what can we do?
Would you consider using the loan market for extra bodies?
Yes, but I do not like the word extra bodies, because extra bodies end up not being good enough. You want to bring in bodies who are good enough to have an impact on the team. Extra bodies don’t count for anything, it is like a sugar rush but eventually, it wears off. You are better off trying to get the right players and if not sticking with what you have got. The players have done a brilliant job but today was just a little too much to ask them to go again at the end of this week.
Is Tomas Soucek in contention for next weekend?
He could be in contention but everybody coming back from COVID you are not sure of their ability, how they are feeling what their symptoms are. So those things make it very difficult to make a judgment. You also check every day to see if somebody else is going to get it.
