Michail Antonio fears a European suspension if West Ham ever makes it past Calais again after taking a scathing aim at officials.
The Hammers’ latest crusade has ended, but it took a cruel, spawny deflection to extinguish the fire after they spooked runaway German champions Bayer Leverkusen.
Antonio’s early header appeared to give the Irons the consolation prize of being the first side to defeat Bundesliga winners in 44 games this season, but substitute Jeremie Frimpong’s 89th-minute strike ricocheted off Aaron Cresswell and past keeper Lukasz Fabianski.
West Ham had a well-deserved standing ovation at the end of the game, but Antonio didn’t mince words about Spanish referee Jose Maria Sanchez’s strange performance, and it will most likely cost him.
“It feels like you’re playing against 13…14 players, including the two lions!“[Michail Antonio]
”We’re disappointed because we showed them too much respect last week. Tonight, we came out and demonstrated our abilities. I didn’t get a decision the entire game”.
Hammers manager Moyes believed Leverkusen would still be tired from their title celebrations four days previously, and for 45 minutes, his wish came true. Antonio’s header from Jarrod Bowen’s cross frightened the Germans, who wandered around Queen Elizabeth II Olympic Park like a stag party at checkout time.
However, any objective assessment of the Irons’ 37th European tie in three seasons must accept that they fell barely short over two legs.
West Ham has had some great nights in Europe under Moyes’ leadership, but only twice in club history—against Den Haag (1976) and Castilla (1980)—have they overcome a two-goal deficit from the first leg to advance? Moyes has accused the Leverkusen coaching chorus line of being “disgraceful.
“The most important thing tonight was that we did not score a second goal in the first half.” We ran out of energy in the second half, and it wasn’t for lack of trying.
West Ham assistant manager Billy Mckinlay was sent off after furiously arguing with Bayer Leverkusen’s coaching staff during their EUROPA LEAGUE match. After the two benches were separated, referee ‘JOSE MARIA SANCHES went over to show Mckinlay a red card.
However, as he dealt with that event, the pandemonium spilled onto the pitch, where Michail Antonio attempted to take the ball from Odilon Kossounou. Players from both clubs rushed to join in, with Leverkusen captain Jonathan Tah grappling with West Ham striker Antonio.
Tah and Antonio were both given yellow cards for their part in the altercation, while a member of Xabi Alonso’s coaching staff was also sent out when the referee cooled things down on the pitch.
Credit: Mirror
