If you thought Sebastien Haller filled the lone striker role superbly after West Ham United were reduced to ten men at Aston Villa, it is because he has had a lot of practice!
Haller’s Eintracht Frankfurt had a man sent-off no fewer than six times last season, meaning the Hammers’ French striker was well-versed when Arthur Masuaku was shown a red card on Monday night.
The No22 gave absolutely everything for the cause, winning eight aerial challenges as he battled with Villa centre-backs Bjorn Engels and Tyrone Mings, while also making two tackles and a clearance at the defensive end of the pitch.
And Haller says he and his teammates need to take the attitude and work-rate they showed at Villa Park into Sunday’s Premier League fixture with Manchester United at London Stadium.
Highlights: Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham United
“I used to get good training last season at Eintracht Frankfurt, because we used to finish a lot of games with ten men!” he smiled. “We got a lot of red cards, so I am used to it!
“It’s part of the game and, even if the red card, for me, was not deserved, it’s part of the game and the only thing we can do now is work harder for ourselves and for the team and first keep the clean sheet, then, if it’s possible, score goals.
“I know this is my task. I have to fight for the team. Sometimes everything goes well and you can just attack and not defend and it’s good, but sometimes you have to defend more than attack, so it’s a solidarity we have to get in every game.
“As long we keep this mindset to work together, defend together and do everything together, then it will be OK.”
To West Ham’s credit, their commitment to cover every blade of grass meant you would likely not have noticed that Manuel Pellegrini’s team were playing with a man down in the final 25 minutes.
Indeed, the Irons went closer to scoring themselves than the eleven men of Aston Villa did in that time.
When asked why, Haller explained how players subconsciously up their work-rate when their side has a man sent-off.
“I think this happens a lot when you go down to ten men because you are not thinking a lot,” he said. “It’s not about ‘Maybe my teammate can do the job…’, no, no no, when it’s ten against eleven, you have to do everything yourself. When the ball is close to you, you have to go. When you have a chance to go forward, you have to go.
“It’s different. It’s just a switch to ‘I have to do more than I already did’.”
