West Ham 1 - Chelsea 0: Pablo Zabaleta and Jose Fonte issue reminder to chairman
NOTE to the chairman: Sometimes an ‘old journeyman’ can be very useful indeed. David Sullivan was reminded of that fact in no uncertain terms on Saturday.
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First, Jose Fonte responded firmly to the co-chairman’s words in the row over the defender’s £8million move to West Ham.
And on the pitch, his team-mates, led by another old head in Pablo Zabaleta, provided the perfect answer as to why experience can be vital in the fight at the bottom of the Premier League as they inflicted a wounding defeat on Chelsea.
West Ham’s outspoken co-owner had said on Friday, ‘My kids begged me not to sign Fonte’. He also declared his club would not be signing any more ‘old journeymen’.
Currently sidelined by injury Fonte, 33, who joined for £8million in January, was blunt in his response.
“It’s ignorance,” he said. “It’s not going to change who I am or what I do. I’m going to keep being the good professional that I am. Keep working hard to try and help my team-mates and the manager.
“What has been said has no effect on me or who I am. I don’t care. I am 33 years of age. I have 500 or 600 appearances. I know what I have done in football, how hard I have to work.
I’m not a young lad in his 20s who can run a lot. You need to be clever, use your experience. But most of all you need your passion.
“It makes no difference to me. I will still continue to be the same guy I have always been, keep giving my best for my team and the manager every time I am called.”
West Ham shocked a seriously under-par Chelsea with an excellent display at the London Stadium, recording their first win under new manager David Moyes and leaving the champions’ manager Antonio Conte admitting that his side’s chances of retaining the title are now over.
Zabaleta played his part in shackling Chelsea’s attacking intent, and the 32-year-old left-back admitted: “Of course I’m tired. I’m not a young lad in his 20s who can run a lot. You need to be clever, use your experience. But most of all you need your passion.
“Football today is physically so demanding you need to be a good professional to keep performing week in and week out. I’ve always tried to give my best and I will continue to. I have the experience you need to help the young lads.
“The hunger is the last thing I will lose as a player. I’m 32, probably at the end of my career, but my fighting spirit makes me feel young. I wake up every morning and go in for training trying to be a good professional. You need that mix of young players and experience.”
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West Ham started superbly, taking the lead after only six minutes when Marko Arnautovic turned neatly onto Manuel Lanzini’s pass to tuck his shot wide of Thibaut Courtois.
And Chelsea, despite dominating the game for long periods, never really looked likely to overcome the setback. Conte’s team were denied what looked like a penalty when Alvaro Morata’s shirt was tugged in the area, and Hammers keeper Adrian, who kept his place ahead of Joe Hart, made several fine saves. Then right at the end Morata shot horribly wide when he should have scored to sum up a thoroughly miserable day for the champions.
But Zabaleta warned the pessimistic Conte: “I remember when we won the first title with City in 2012, we were eight points behind Manchester United in February. It’s so unpredictable.”
Conte was adamant the top four is now the target for his team, but with a game at Huddersfield tomorrow he does not have the time to roast his players after such a poor showing.
“Where is the time to kill the players in training sessions?” he said. “There are six top teams and only four places for the Champions League. If City has this many points over you, you have an important target to try to get into the top four. Two years ago Chelsea missed this target.”
