David Moyes: Gianluca Scamacca 'has got to be much better' to get back in West Ham side after Aston Villa draw
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ByEurosport
Published 12/03/2023 at 21:51 GMT
Aston Villa went ahead against West Ham through Ollie Watkins but David Moyes' side rallied and equalised through a Said Benrahma penalty. Speaking after the game, Moyes, who picked Maxwel Cornet ahead of Gianluca Scamacca to play up front, said his Italian striker had to contribute more in his performances if he wanted to earn his place back in the starting line-up.
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West Ham boss David Moyes said wants more from striker Gianluca Scamacca after failing to pick him in the 1-1 draw against Aston Villa on Sunday.
The point meant that the Londoners moved out of the bottom three, but only on goal difference, when they had to fight back after going behind to an Ollie Watkins strike.
Said Benrahma scored from the spot in order to claim a point for Moyes in a game when the Scot was finally able to pick from all his summer and winter signings, including Danny Ings, who was back from injury.
However, despite being available, Scamacca was left on the bench and Maxwel Cornet was preferred up front as they chased the game.
Speaking after the match, Moyes explained: “We know that his physical data has got to be much better than it is.
“Gianluca has got to get himself back. No manager wants to put out a bad team, you want to put out the players who you think are going to win for you, so you are always looking to put your best team out.
“I think his application is there, we just want the output to be bigger and more, that’s one of things we are looking for more [of].
“The general part of his play, his hold-up play, we like him for it, he’s really, really good at it and we’ve not seen it as much in the work we’ve been doing.”
Lucas Paqueta courted controversy when he walked down the tunnel 15 minutes from time after being subbed.
“He wanted to stay on,” continued Moyes, discussing the player who was on a yellow. “But I’ve told him and I explained to him.
“I didn’t want him to get sent off because then he’d be suspended for future games.
“It was getting to the stage of the game where maybe fresh legs could help. That was the thinking behind it.”
West Ham are now 17th, but they do not play in the league again until April 2, and could conceivably find themselves bottom of the table by then.
Villa manager Unai Emery disputed the award of a penalty, when Leon Bailey brought down Paqueta.
“I watched it and I respect the referees 100 per cent,” he said. “But in my opinion it was very soft.
“I’m happy because we knew before the match that it was going to be difficult.
“After 90 minutes maybe we deserved more. We controlled the game and scored the first goal but they had chances as well. The second half was more open than I would have liked. It’s a fair result.”
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