Michail Antonio felt West Ham had been up in opposition to 14 gamers as they bowed out of the Europa League to Bayer Leverkusen.
Antonio’s early header gave the Hammers hope of overturning a 2-0 first-leg deficit and inflicting a primary defeat of the season on Xabi Alonso’s new Bundesliga champions.
However the bustling striker claimed he didn’t get a call all evening from card-happy Spanish referee Jose Maria Sanchez and his two assistants.
You’ve adopted us each step of the way in which, and also you fought alongside us till the very finish tonight.
We’re without end grateful in your unwavering help. pic.twitter.com/qnTpEXLayN
— West Ham United (@WestHam) April 18, 2024
“It doesn’t really feel such as you’re taking part in in opposition to 11 males, it feels such as you’re taking part in in opposition to 13 or 14 together with the 2 linos,” Antonio informed TNT Sports activities.
“You simply should preserve pushing and attempt to make the choices go your means. And so they simply weren’t. We needed to preserve taking part in our means and preserve being skilled.”
West Ham pushed gamely for a second purpose to take the tie to extra-time, however as they inevitably flagged Leverkusen substitute Jeremie Frimpong scored with a deflected shot within the final minute to make it 1-1 on the evening and 3-1 on combination.
It was a valiant effort however finally a tragic finish to a different European journey for final season’s Convention League winners.
“We’re very happy with ourselves, to attain what we’ve achieved over the previous few years is unimaginable,” added Antonio.
“Three back-to-back years in European quarter-finals I’d by no means have thought that. We had been a yo-yo staff, preventing relegation, then into Europe.”
Sanchez booked 11 gamers and despatched off West Ham coach Billy McKinlay, and Sebastian Parrilla from Leverkusen’s employees after a touchline altercation.
Requested if that skirmish had something to do with some bad-tempered exchanges between the benches in final week’s first leg, Alonso mentioned with a smile: “I wouldn’t say no.”
Hammers boss David Moyes was not eager to be drawn on the officiating, however he did say: “I watch a whole lot of Spanish soccer but when that’s the way in which it’s you wouldn’t wish to watch too many Spanish matches.”
On his aspect’s efficiency, he added: “It was an excellent staff efficiency, I’ve to say over the 2 video games.
“We performed a very good staff and we had possibilities to be two or three up. I couldn’t fault the gamers in any respect. If I used to be going out of Europe I needed to exit like that.”
Within the first half Leverkusen regarded as if they might have celebrated their first Bundesliga crown on Sunday a little bit an excessive amount of, and Alonso admitted they wanted to enhance after the break.
“For positive it was an exhilarating recreation,” he mentioned. “Two completely different halves. First half we knew West Ham would include excessive depth and we weren’t snug with that.
“After they scored one we had been fortunate to not concede a second one. However we confirmed character within the second half and the substitutes had an excellent impression. It was a lesson for us.”
