Mikael Silvestre responds bluntly to Richard Keys question on West Ham, ‘you joking?’
West Ham United weren’t given much hope of performing a turnaround by Mikael Silvestre at half-time of their match against Manchester City.
Speaking with Richard Keys on beIN Sports (31 August, 6:27pm), Silvestre gave a frank response when asked if the Irons, 2-1 down at the time, could come back against City in the second half.
The former France international’s doubts were proven to be correct as Erling Haaland completed his hat-trick midway through the second period to seal a 3-1 victory.
Keys asked during the half-time break: “Is there anybody here that thinks West Ham can win this match?”
Silvestre bluntly replied: “Are you joking?”
The former Manchester United and Arsenal defender added: “They needed an own goal to come back into the game.
“They had that one chance towards the end with Mohammed Kudus – but City have 90 per cent of the control.”
West Ham put up strong fight but Manchester City too strong
The Irons got off to a bright start which very soon gave way to one-way traffic towards their goal from Haaland and co, with Silvestre spot-on in his judgement that the visitors had “90 per cent” control.
Julen Lopetegui’s side were hardly woeful in the opening period of the match, but Lucas Paqueta’s cheap giveaway leading directly to City’s opener was a sign of things to come.
Although Jarrod Bowen’s run and cross from the right resulted in an own goal to level things up, further strikes from Haaland either side of the break put the Hammers to the sword in clinical fashion.
Kudus indeed did come closest to bringing Lopetegui’s side back into the contest, rattling the woodwork on the counter-attack with the Irons chasing a consolation, but that was as good as things got.
The Hammers now enter the international break following two losses either side of a win at Crystal Palace, and it remains to be seen how Lopetegui’s side shape up come their next Premier League match.
In other West Ham news, Sam Allardyce has slammed comments made about his former side
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