West Ham United manager Nuno Espírito Santo admitted his side were left heartbroken after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser in their 1-1 draw with Manchester United at the London Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Hammers appeared on course for a valuable victory after Tomáš Souček’s second-half strike, only for Benjamin Šeško to rescue a point for the visitors with a late goal.
Despite the disappointment of dropping points in the closing moments, Nuno praised his players’ effort and overall performance, insisting the team continues to move in the right direction.
“The boys gave their all,” he said. “It was a good game, but it’s tough to take in the last moments for us, especially for our fans that were there to support us till the end, and to take this final blow, it’s going to be painful.”
The Portuguese tactician highlighted the progress his side has made in recent weeks, pointing to improved consistency and competitiveness.
“I believe the standards we have set in the last five games are what we need. I think we are in the right way. We are competing well and have made improvements in a lot of aspects in our game,” he added.
Nuno, however, acknowledged that West Ham must become more clinical when opportunities arise, particularly in matches where they manage to control proceedings. “We should improve more things. There were moments that today, with the space that there was, we should kill the game and try to avoid suffering in the last minutes. But overall, I think it was a positive performance with the boys’ hard work and commitment,” he said.
Reflecting on the tactical execution of his team, Nuno emphasized West Ham’s ability to contain a Manchester United side in strong form. “We contained a very tough team that is in a good dynamic, we didn’t allow too many situations. We had good combinations, we scored, the way we came in the second half, it was really positive, the desire of the boys, the commitment to go and take the game,” he explained.
Souček’s goal came from a well-rehearsed attacking pattern, something Nuno credited to the team’s tactical preparation. “When we go to wide areas, we always have the threat of our midfield, especially Tomáš, going in the box. He takes advantage of the space as well, combined, and we had a couple more chances,” he said.
Nuno concluded by thanking supporters for their unwavering backing. “A special thanks to our fans that were there for us today. We are disappointed not to give them this huge joy for everybody,” he said.
