Defender hints at what went wrong against Burnley
West Ham United defenders Vladimír Coufal has urged his colleagues to draw positives from the second half of Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Burnley as they prepare for the UEFA Europa League round of 16 second leg match against SC Freiburg.
West Ham struggled immensely in the first half against Burnley but managed to rally back into the game after David Moyes introduced all of his attackers. It’s hard to put into words,” Coufal said. “The first half was just terrible for us. Sometimes your opponent outplays you, but we didn’t handle Burnley well enough before halftime.
“The second half was more representative of our style of play, and I believe we can learn a lot from that performance going ahead. We approached the situation with courage and positivity. Mistakes happen, but we supported one another, which eventually led to equality. We have a vital game on Thursday, and if we have that mindset and the full backing of our fans, I’m convinced we’ll be able to achieve our aim.
While Coufal’s statements are positive, it is worth noting his usage of the word ‘brave.’ I can’t help but wonder if there’s a subliminal message for the manager. While team courage is essential, I believe that boldness in selecting is also important. West Ham’s comeback against Burnley was not simply due to bravery; rather, it was down to Lucas Paqueta’s centre role and the attacking foursome of Mohammed Kudus, Michail Antonio, Jarrod Bowen, and Danny Ings. As a result, I believe aggressive intent, rather than simply daring, will be required against Freiburg.
