MX23RW : Monday, May 3 08:53:32| >> :60:1488:1488:

Tomas Soucek: 'We will continue to battle for top four'

Tomas Soucek: 'We will continue to battle for top four'
© Reuters
The injury-hit Hammers lost back-to-back Premier League matches for only the second time this season due to Timo Werner's first-half strike.

Tomas Soucek is refusing to give up on West Ham's top-four dream despite Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Chelsea.

The injury-hit Hammers lost back-to-back Premier League matches for only the second time this season due to Timo Werner's first-half strike.

They were not helped by a bizarre red card shown to defender Fabian Balbuena, who caught Ben Chilwell's calf after clearing the ball.

But West Ham remain fifth, three points behind the Blues, and with a favourable run-in could still break back into the top four.

Tomas Soucek, right, is still dreaming big
Tomas Soucek, right, is still dreaming big (Justin Setterfield/PA)

"It was a tough game for us," Czech midfielder Soucek told the club's official website.

"We wanted to win because we were playing at home and we have a very good record at home. We wanted to be back in the top four again, it's our dream, so we were disappointed with the result.

"It was hard, and we didn't create many chances. But in the second half we started well and this is the way how we would like to play.

"We said in the changing room after the game that we should have played from the start like we did from the start of the second half. It's a shame for us, but we were still only 1-0 down and we could have scored and drawn or even won.

"It's a shame, but still I think that we played better in the last 20 minutes, but the red card made it harder again."

Soucek added: "It's great that we can compare ourselves to teams like Chelsea and the other teams around us.

"We have five games until the end and we still have a dream to be in as high a position as possible.

"We want to prepare for the next game and I hope we still have a big chance."

The Hammers badly missed key men Declan Rice and Michail Antonio, as well as full-backs Aaron Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku and suspended centre-half Craig Dawson.

They travel to Burnley next Monday and manager David Moyes said: "We are hoping to try and get some players back if we can.

"Saturday was probably as low as we had been in terms of players, but nevertheless, I thought the players put on a good show.

"We lost 1-0 to a team who are very much in form, and maybe we could have got a bit closer if the decision hadn't gone against us late on."

Victory meant Chelsea took control in the race for the top four, and they face Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday night.

Boss Thomas Tuchel said: "At 1-0 it's always tough until the end but I felt the team was very focused and strong.

"It's the best way to arrive in another massive match in the Champions League. The race will go on and we have to continue to deliver points."

ID:444758: cacheID:444758:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6699:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
West Ham United manager David Moyes pictured on February 27, 2021
Read Next:
David Moyes labels Fabian Balbuena sending off "rank, rotten decision"
>

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Premier League
La Liga
Serie A
Bundesliga
National League
National League North
National League South
Turkish Super Lig
Russian Premier League
Swedish Allsvenskan
Danish Superliga
Finnish Veikkausliiga
League of Ireland Premier
Segunda Division
2.Bundesliga
Ligue 2
Eerste Divisie
Major League Soccer
Copa Diego Maradona
Liga MX
AFC Champions League
Chinese Super League playoffs
Premier League 2 - Div 1
Premier League 2 - Div 2
Tables

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!