Aaron Cresswell must learn from second red card for West Ham United v Frankfurt – Frank McAvennie
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Frank McAvennie says Aaron Cresswell must learn from his second red card for West Ham in the Europa League or ‘what’s the point?’.
Cresswell was sent off for a last man challenge for the second time in consecutive rounds as the Hammers crashed out of the Europa League at the semi-final stage to Frankfurt.
But after receiving plenty of criticism for the red card, McAvennie believes the experienced left-back must learn from it because West Ham can’t afford to go a man down at the elite level in Europe.
“Obviously a lot of people are blaming, having a pop at Cresswell, two sendings off in the same tournament,” he said to West Ham Zone.
“The boy’s got to learn from that, that’s for sure. You can’t do that. At the elite level, you can’t go a man down. It’s hard enough when you’re playing against teams in the Premier League, but you’re coming up against proper European teams who have been competing in Europe for many years.
“It was a bit disappointing but it is one of them. It is what it is. A lot of people are blaming Cresswell but he’s got to learn off it. That’s the important thing.
“I’m sure David will be hurt. But it’s happened and it’s happened before. If he’s not learnt off the first time then what’s the point?”
Cresswell’s red card against Lyon ultimately didn’t come back to bite them as they drew the game and then went on to win in France without him.
But doing it twice in the same tournament in such a short space of time is unforgivable and the fans have every right to criticise him.
He must learn and get better, even at 32-years-old or the club will have to look towards the future and replacing him.
In other West Ham news, West Ham ace set for three-game ban after what he did after loss v Frankfurt
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