antonio conte happy
Thoughts on the game?
In the end, I think that we had the opportunity to get three points today, and for this reason, we have to be a bit disappointed with the final result on the one hand. On the other, it is not easy to play against West Ham – especially in this stadium, with this atmosphere. In my opinion, West Ham are a really good team. They are strong physically. We knew the capacity of West Ham to be dangerous from corners, set pieces, and throw-ins, and I think we prepared very well and trained very well. But you can pay attention for 95 minutes, but only once you don’t pay attention, and you concede a goal that you can avoid. Because I repeat, we conceded a goal that we could have avoided. And in the end, one point is good, especially I repeat away against West Ham.
How key was the VAR decision?
It’s difficult also to explain because you know very well that I don’t like to comment on refereeing decisions. I never did this in England. But today, I like to comment on the decision because it was the right one, and I said to him at the end of the first half but with a smile, not in a polemic way. But with a smile, I said you have taken the right decision, and then the VAR called you, and the VAR for sure embarrassed the referee because to make him change the right decision was really, really strange. But for managers, for players to accept the mistake of the referee during the game is ok – because a refereeing decision can sometimes be positive and negative. At the end of the season, there is always a balance. But to accept this type of situation… Don’t forget against Nottingham Forest, the player went with his hand and penalty, clear situation, red card, no. Today was clear. I know the rule. The problem is when there are people behind a monitor with the video. They have a lot of time – they have taken a lot of time – I also listen to the crowd’s whistles. The crowd in England don’t like the VAR, no? This is very, very clear. But I think they are right. Because if these are the decisions, it’s incredible. Or they don’t know the rules. This is not the first time because I have seen many times, situations with VAR onside, the same situation offside in another game because there is one finger or the line is gone. In England, it is better to cut off VAR for the crowd and us. For me, for my players, for every coach, every player at all the clubs, you accept the referee’s decision, positive or negative, because these are human mistakes. With the monitor, you see the situation, and it can be a human mistake. I don’t want to think anything. But I repeat, I’m really disappointed, these people, they stay behind the monitor, they have to pay more attention, they have to study, I don’t know… In England, I spoke with the other managers, and no one is happy about this situation.
The explanation for the decision is it hit Cresswell’s head and then hand. Do you disagree with this?
But, he jumps and only when you are jumping do you stay in this way with your hand. Only for this because you do space because you jump in this way. I understand that the ball is here. If you open it is very difficult. Honestly, the game Southampton vs United for Southampton was really difficult to accept the decision, I think. In my opinion, I repeat, you easily accept the decision of the referee, positive or negative. At that moment, the referee sees this situation, and he accepts. But if you are behind a monitor and two to three people and you have time and have time to make a decision. Honestly, it is very difficult. I repeat, maybe next time will be good for us, but I don’t also want as if you see a situation, if it is negative for my team, if clear you have to punish. You have to punish. You have to be fair and do the right thing. If you don’t do this with the monitor with the time but is difficult. This is my opinion about VAR, as sometimes when I see and watch the game, I see why this is onside and the other is offside. Why? I repeat this decision moved the final result, a pointless, a point more. We accept the mistake of the referee. Honestly, I prefer the mistake of the referee. The positive or negative situation, see a penalty or don’t see a penalty. Ok. Come on, we continue. I never comment on a referee’s decision, never, never. These two clear situations two games in a row against Nottingham Forest and now against West Ham. I also spoke about the situation of another game that maybe not be good to do this, for example. To make a mistake the behind the video, behind monitor I think is incredible and difficult to accept. But talk about the game.
Can you just explain your thinking about the substitutions as you only made one?
I think at that moment I didn’t want to change the balance of the team. Skippy was the first time with us. He trained with us for only two days, and I wanted to give him the possibility to come on the bench and breath the atmosphere and risk to play because Hojbjerg received a really bad tackle. Then I wanted to make only one change with Richy because in that moment, we needed energy, strong energy. In other situations, I prefer to keep the balance in that moment and also because in two (sic) days we have to play against Fulham and for sure I will make rotations. My players know very well, but they are ready, and we are ready to face this many games in a row, in two or three days.
Does David Moyes say VAR decision changed it for them?
Honestly, also without the penalty, then we went 1-0 up. In my opinion, maybe we can do better to kill the game, to kill the game instead. If you stay and you keep your opponent in the game, it can happen a corner, a throw-in, a free kick and especially against West Ham, you can pay, and we paid. I think we have to learn for next time, for the future. We are going step by step. I think that the team today also showed to be strong and to be difficult to play against, but at the same time, when you have the opportunity to get three points, you have to get three points.
