Convinced that fatigue may have played a role in his team flop against Fulham, West Ham boss David Moyes has given his players two days off from what he dubbed their punishing schedule and a sickness bug that is sweeping through the camp.
It is understood Moyes himself has been unwell, along with Edson Alvarez, Emerson Palmieri and others, and the 60-year-old Scot hopes the mini-break will act as a reset ahead of facing Freiburg in the Europa League on Thursday.
The West Ham manager conducted a very brief post-match press conference at Craven Cottage after suffering the heaviest defeat of his time in charge. He blamed their unforgiving fixture list, saying they are ‘mentally and physically’ exhausted.
Moyes used his full quota of five substitutes for the first time this season in that loss, including removing Lucas Paqueta, who has been playing with an injury recently, and Pablo Fornals, another one impacted by illness.
It is understood he made the decision to cancel training for the next two days after witnessing the defeat. Mail Sport can now reveal West Ham’s squad are due to return to Rush Green on Wednesday ahead of hosting Freiburg on Thursday.
Several players were affected by illness ahead of their 5-0 hammering by Fulham on Sunday
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A win or a draw at the London Stadium would be enough for West Ham to finish top of their Europa League group and qualify for the knockout stages.
Yet if they are beaten by the German visitors, the Hammers will be forced to add another two games to their schedule via a two-legged play-off in February.
Fulham wiped the floor with West Ham as their impressive win came courtesy of five different scorers. Raul Jimenez, Willian, Tosin, Harry Wilson and Carlos Vinicius tormented the visitors who were unbeaten in their last four league games.
‘Moyes Out’ was trending on social media throughout but Mail Sport has spoken to senior sources at West Ham who say the manager retains their full support.
The Hammers are still involved in four competitions this season. They sit ninth in the Premier League and are top of their Europa League group, while they will face Bristol City in the FA Cup’s third round and Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
