David Moyes gives his West Ham players two days off to combat fatigue and sickness gripping the squad after 5-0 mauling at Fulham… with the Scot hoping mini-break acts as a reset ahead of Freiburg clash
- West Ham fell ill and then lost 5-0 to rivals Fulham.
- David Moyes, who was also injured, plans to give his players two days off.
- Chelsea are PITIOUS without the ball and you have no idea what team is going to show up each week. – Listen It all begins
David Moyes gave West Ham’s players two days off following their 5-0 humiliation at Fulham, feeling it was necessary amid fatigue from a tough schedule and illness sweeping through the camp.
It is understood that Moyes himself is unwell, as are Edson Alvarez, Emerson Palmieri and others, and the 60-year-old Scot is hoping the mini-break will serve as a reset ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash with Freiburg.
The West Ham manager held a very short post-match press conference at Craven Cottage after suffering the heaviest defeat of his time as manager. He blamed their unforgiving match schedule, saying they were “mentally and physically” exhausted.
Moyes made his full quota of five changes for the first time this season in the defeat, including the removal of Lucas Paqueta, who had recently played injured, and Pablo Fornals, another player affected by illness.
It is understood he made the decision to cancel training for the next two days after witnessing the defeat. Mail Sport can now reveal that West Ham are due to return to Rush Green on Wednesday before hosting Freiburg on Thursday.
David Moyes intends to give his West Ham players two days off to overcome fatigue and illness.
Several players fell ill ahead of the 5-0 win at Fulham on Sunday.
A win or draw at the London Stadium will be enough for West Ham to finish top of their Europa League group and advance to the knockout stages.
However, if the German visitors beat them, the Hammers will be forced to add two more games to their schedule via a two-legged play-off in February.
Fulham demolished West Ham as their impressive win was the result of five different goalscorers. Raul Jimenez, Willian, Tosin, Harry Wilson and Carlos Vinicius tormented the visitors, who are unbeaten in their last four league matches.
‘Moyes leaves’ has been trending on social media everywhere, but Mail Sport have spoken to senior West Ham sources who say the manager retains their full support.
The Hammers are still competing in four competitions this season. They are ninth in the Premier League and top of their Europa League group, and face Bristol City in the FA Cup third round and Liverpool in the League Cup quarter-finals.
Edson Alvarez was one of the players taken out of the game and did not play in the match against the Cottagers.
After the Fulham game, Moyes spoke about the illness affecting his players, without specifying how many were affected, admitting it “didn’t help” and also blaming fatigue after a quick recovery from Thursday’s win over Spurs.
“I am ashamed of the result and the performance and we apologize to the fans,” he said. “There were a few mitigating circumstances – I think the middle of the week took a huge part of our energy.
“Playing on Thursday and Sunday in two Premier League games compared to playing Fulham on Wednesday and Sunday makes a big, big difference. We got really sick the last few days at camp and it didn’t help.
“Even mentally, I just felt like Edson was out sick today, we had Pablo and Emerson who were both sick yesterday and we weren’t sure how they would do.”
“We got really sick the last few days at camp and it didn’t help.”