The protagonist of the story was Lucas Paqueta, whose transfer to Manchester City was called off after it was revealed late last week that the Football Association was looking into possible betting violations. West Ham’s No. 10 became more influential as the game went on, dispelling worries that he wouldn’t be in the right frame of mind to play, and he put the game away with a penalty kick in extra time. The fact that Moisés Caicedo, Chelsea’s new £115 million midfielder, gave away the penalty only made Pochettino’s situation worse.
The volume was turned up high as the teams emerged and the home fans lifted a mosaic of the Europa Conference League trophy in the Billy Bonds Stand. West Ham were clearly in a pugnacious mood, their belief forged in that triumph over Fiorentina two months ago, and there was little subtlety to their plan. As ever it involved little possession, plenty of committed defending and an acceptance that most of the passing football would be coming from the othe
Lucas Paqueta was the main character in the tale, and his transfer to Manchester City was canceled after it was made public late last week that the Football Association was investigating potential betting offences. Worries that West Ham’s No. 10 wouldn’t be in the right state of mind to play were allayed as the game progressed, and he ended it with a penalty kick in extra time. Pochettino’s predicament got worse when Moisés Caicedo, Chelsea’s new £115 million midfielder, conceded the penalty.
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