David Moyes
Does that just feel like a real kick in the teeth?
Yes, I am [expletive] off with that result that is for sure.
You were fantastic defensively but Man Utd brought on, Rashford Cavani and Martial does that underline the difference?
I just see it as then having a strong squad, I did not necessarily think them bringing them on made it that much different. We defended well enough in that period. We completely switched off, we did not do things that I think you learn when you are a young player when you try to see games out and what you try to do in the last minute. And I thought we did not do that well in the last minute. We defended well and had a good defensive organisation today but we lacked what we maybe had in recent weeks in our attacking play, which was not at the level – but you have to remember the level of the opposition and we were away from home. There were a lot of good things about it but the result is key and that didn’t go for us.
Any issues with the goal in terms of Cavani being off-side?
I have not seen it again but by all accounts everybody seems to think it is fine so we have to trust VAR to get the decisions right.
At an international break, do look back and reflect at where you are and what you’ve got to look forward to and think you’ve done pretty well over the course of the season so far or did you just sting at the result on the day?
I’m not coming into games to roll over and lose and say things are okay because we want to be better than that. We want to be competitive and have that mindset. I am really disappointed with the result but I am pleased with them for long parts of today, defensively, not our attacking play. But over the season the players have done a great job but [today] was not good enough and we have to make sure that we keep in there, hang in and be around the top teams if we can but we certainly have moved up a level or two in the last year or so and I am enjoying it but that result today is really hard to take.
If you sign a striker or some fresh legs would that enable you to push on for the rest of the season and continue your good form?
I think in a perfect world that is what we would try and do. We have been trying for a couple of years to add a striker to the group but we have not been able to. We have had quite a few offers for players at different times that have not been accepted or we could not get or [they] have been too expensive. So it is not for the want of trying and not like we are not seeing the same things that others are seeing. It is trying to get in players that I think can help us and make a difference but we will continue trying to look. With a week or so to go [in the transfer window] we will keep looking.
Now you have European aspirations do you think it is harder to sign players because others see you as a threat?
I see it as being a great opportunity to join West Ham because it is a club on the up and doing well. We are trying to show that we can be consistent. Last year qualifying for Europe was a great achievement, I think if we keep ourselves in and around those European spots I still see it as a great achievement. Our form has been good, we have been a good team to watch and I don’t see it as being a big problem I see it as people wanting to come to West Ham and I still believe that before the window shuts I hope to make one or two big signings but I can’t promise that. We understand and everybody can see what we need but getting it is a different thing.
Are you confident you will make new signings?
I think that we will try hard to make them but I cannot say one way or the other, we will see. We will work hard to add to what we have got but I can’t give any guarantees that will happen.
