Kurt Zouma, the usually reliable presence in West Ham United’s defense, has opened up about the team’s recent disappointing 4-1 defeat to Aston Villa, relays the Hammer.News. The Frenchman, who has been delivering an impressive season and has been a central figure since being named captain, provided insight into the match and West Ham’s approach.
Zouma, along with Arsenal’s William Saliba, remains one of only two central defenders in the Premier League who have not been dribbled past this season. Despite the strong defensive record, West Ham’s performance against Villa was far from their usual standards.
He told the official website: “We should be disappointed with the Premier League defeat at Villa. We conceded four goals as well, which is not like us at West Ham. But there are games where nothing goes your way sometimes, and we try to stick to our plan and press them, but their plan was to pass through us. Tactically, we have to learn from that and learn how to manage the game better.”
In the aftermath of the game, Zouma offered his perspective, emphasizing the team’s disappointment with the loss and the uncharacteristic concession of four goals. He acknowledged that some matches don’t go as planned, and despite sticking to their tactical approach and pressing their opponents, Villa’s tactics allowed them to pass through West Ham’s defense. The French defender believes that West Ham needs to learn from the defeat and focus on improving their game management.
While players share the responsibility for the loss, it’s worth noting that the team’s manager, David Moyes, also plays a role in shaping the tactics and selecting the lineup for each match. The defeat serves as a reminder that both players and coaching staff must work together to ensure success and address weaknesses when they arise.