Enner Valencia admitted it was 'tough' to work out how a dominant West Ham United failed to beat Stoke City on Sunday
Enner Valencia could not understand how West Ham United failed to win their final Barclays Premier League fixture of the season at Stoke City.
The Hammers dominated for long periods both before and after Michail Antonio had given the visitors the lead at the Britannia Stadium.
However a succession of missed chances and miraculous saves – including one from Shay Given to deny Valencia – and goal line clearances from the Potters meant Slaven Bilic’s side ended scarcely believable 2-1 losers.
“It was a very tough result to take for us, because in the first half it was all about West Ham, then in the second half they managed to score two goals out of nothing,” said the No11, whose overhead kick also led to Glenn Whelan’s amazing clearance from Cheikhou Kouyate’s goal-bound flick with the scores level at one-all.
“It is difficult to understand how we didn’t win the game because we had three chances cleared off the line and were so close to getting the second goal, but it just wouldn’t go in.
“It’s the end of my second season here at West Ham and overall this season has been a happy one for us as a team, because we have finished seventh in the table.”
For Valencia, defeat at Stoke brought an end to a campaign that brought five goals and three assists in 24 appearances in Claret and Blue – highlighted by a match-winning double at AFC Bournemouth in January.
The Hammers dominated for long periods both before and after Michail Antonio had given the visitors the lead at the Britannia Stadium.
However a succession of missed chances and miraculous saves – including one from Shay Given to deny Valencia – and goal line clearances from the Potters meant Slaven Bilic’s side ended scarcely believable 2-1 losers.
“It was a very tough result to take for us, because in the first half it was all about West Ham, then in the second half they managed to score two goals out of nothing,” said the No11, whose overhead kick also led to Glenn Whelan’s amazing clearance from Cheikhou Kouyate’s goal-bound flick with the scores level at one-all.
“It is difficult to understand how we didn’t win the game because we had three chances cleared off the line and were so close to getting the second goal, but it just wouldn’t go in.
“It’s the end of my second season here at West Ham and overall this season has been a happy one for us as a team, because we have finished seventh in the table.”
For Valencia, defeat at Stoke brought an end to a campaign that brought five goals and three assists in 24 appearances in Claret and Blue – highlighted by a match-winning double at AFC Bournemouth in January.
Next up for the 26-year-old is South America’s premier international competition, the Copa America, which celebrates its centenary with a mouth-watering tournament hosted by the United States.
Ecuador, who have made an outstanding start to 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, will kick-off against Group B favourites Brazil in Pasadena, California on 4 June, before tackling Peru in Glendale, Arizona four days later and outsiders Haiti in East Rutherford, New Jersey on 12 June.
“Now, I have a short time to be with my family and I will then start to prepare for the Copa America," he explained.
“We are in a group with a massive team in Brazil, but we have a very good chance to get through to the next stage because Ecuador is doing very well in qualification for the 2018 World Cup.
“We also have Peru and Haiti in our group and we hope to have a very good Copa America. It will be played in the United States, too, where I scored against England, so I am looking forward to it very much!”
Ecuador, who have made an outstanding start to 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, will kick-off against Group B favourites Brazil in Pasadena, California on 4 June, before tackling Peru in Glendale, Arizona four days later and outsiders Haiti in East Rutherford, New Jersey on 12 June.
“Now, I have a short time to be with my family and I will then start to prepare for the Copa America," he explained.
“We are in a group with a massive team in Brazil, but we have a very good chance to get through to the next stage because Ecuador is doing very well in qualification for the 2018 World Cup.
“We also have Peru and Haiti in our group and we hope to have a very good Copa America. It will be played in the United States, too, where I scored against England, so I am looking forward to it very much!”