{"id":10372,"date":"2026-05-19T02:16:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T02:16:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=10372"},"modified":"2026-05-19T02:16:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T02:16:16","slug":"roberto-de-zerbi-issues-blunt-response-to-west-hams-defeat-to-newcastle-united","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=10372","title":{"rendered":"Roberto De Zerbi issues blunt response to West Ham&#8217;s defeat to Newcastle United"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"post-317343\">\n<div class=\"article-follow\">\n<div class=\"article-sharing google-follow\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"28\" height=\"28\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hammers.news\/wp-content\/themes\/grv-media\/img\/google-discover.svg\" alt=\"\"\/> <span>Add as preferred source on Google<\/span>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>West Ham United\u2019s defeat to Newcastle United changes nothing for Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi, or so he says. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Following a dreadful result at St James\u2019 Park on Sunday, West Ham are on the brink of relegation to the Championship. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-grvmedia-grv-video GRVMultiVideo\"\/>\n<section class=\"grv-talking-point\" data-trigger=\"vue-sidebar\" data-story-id=\"998ffabe-7413-466b-8fcb-a1a9b37aa1df\" data-story-name=\"West Ham v Newcastle\" data-comment-id=\"fda917af-779b-4996-9ced-a664e46759f9\" data-story-slug=\"west-ham-v-newcastle\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__inner\">\n<header class=\"grv-talking-point__header\">  <\/header>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__content\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__cta\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-wrap\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-content\">\n<h3 class=\"grv-talking-point__title\">How do YOU feel about Jarrod Bowen as a West Ham United captain\u2026.<\/h3>\n<p class=\"grv-talking-point__subtitle\">Clearly a legend but a few dissenting voices \ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__embed\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/THREE-LINE-quote-graphic-2-1-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A quote showing Simon Jordan's quotes on Jarrod Bowen's performance for West Ham vs Newcastle United. Image shows Bowen looking dejected and quote reads: &quot;\" class=\"wp-image-317302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/THREE-LINE-quote-graphic-2-1-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/THREE-LINE-quote-graphic-2-1-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/THREE-LINE-quote-graphic-2-1-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/THREE-LINE-quote-graphic-2-1-912x1140.jpg 912w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/THREE-LINE-quote-graphic-2-1-600x750.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/THREE-LINE-quote-graphic-2-1.jpg 1080w\"\/><\/div><figcaption title=\"Credit: Getty Images\/ MI News\/NurPhoto\">Credit: Getty Images\/ MI News\/NurPhoto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>There is a chance West Ham\u2019s bid for Premier League survival doesn\u2019t even come down until the last day, with a victory for Spurs against Chelsea on Tuesday night being enough to seal their fate. <\/p>\n<p>Even a point would do the job for Spurs, given their far superior goal difference. <\/p>\n<p>Still, De Zerbi isn\u2019t getting carried away just yet. <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-de-zerbi-refuses-to-discuss-west-ham-amid-relegation-fight-with-tottenham-nbsp-nbsp\">De Zerbi refuses to discuss West Ham amid relegation fight with Tottenham  <\/h2>\n<p>Directly asked during his pre-match press conference on Monday if West Ham\u2019s defeat at Newcastle had given Spurs more of an advantage, De Zerbi bluntly said: \u201cMy players have to be ready to play and have a good game. To play a game with cause, with pride, with work on the pitch.\u201d  <\/p>\n<p>He did then add that Spurs deserved to stay up. The Italian said: \u201cI think they (his players) deserve to stay up. They deserve to play in the Premier League. They are good players.\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"grv-talking-point\" data-trigger=\"vue-sidebar\" data-story-id=\"998ffabe-7413-466b-8fcb-a1a9b37aa1df\" data-story-name=\"West Ham v Newcastle\" data-comment-id=\"4bbab066-f9bb-4dc5-8a5c-e99db6769cf4\" data-story-slug=\"west-ham-v-newcastle\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__inner\">\n<header class=\"grv-talking-point__header\">  <\/header>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__content\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__cta\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-wrap\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-content\">\n<h3 class=\"grv-talking-point__title\">We are all but relegated \u2014 how would you feel about keeping Nuno in the Championship? \ud83e\uddd1\u200d\ud83d\udcbc<\/h3>\n<p class=\"grv-talking-point__subtitle\">Or was that performance the last straw? \ud83d\ude21<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__embed\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/THREE-LINE-prove-me-wrong-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Nuno Espirito Santo, Manager of West Ham United, looks dejected during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and West Ham United\" class=\"wp-image-317181\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/THREE-LINE-prove-me-wrong-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/THREE-LINE-prove-me-wrong-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/THREE-LINE-prove-me-wrong-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/THREE-LINE-prove-me-wrong-912x1140.jpg 912w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/THREE-LINE-prove-me-wrong-600x750.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/THREE-LINE-prove-me-wrong.jpg 1080w\"\/><\/div><figcaption title=\"NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MAY 17: Nuno Espirito Santo, Manager of West Ham United, looks dejected during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and West Ham United at St James' Park on May 17, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol\/Getty Images)\">Photo by Ian MacNicol\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>The sad thing for West Ham fans is that everyone connected to the north London club no longer\u00a0has to\u00a0panic until after\u00a0the Chelsea\u00a0game at least. <\/p>\n<p>One point from two games will be enough to ensure the idea of their rivals sending them to the Championship for the first time in the Premier League era is no longer a concern. <\/p>\n<p>De Zerbi doesn\u2019t need to give expansive answers. The maths are pretty simple. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"628\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2276204668-1024x628.jpg\" alt=\"West Ham players look dejected after losing to Newcastle United.\" class=\"wp-image-317254\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2276204668-1024x628.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2276204668-300x184.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2276204668-768x471.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2276204668-1536x943.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2276204668-1140x700.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2276204668-750x460.jpg 750w\"\/><\/div><figcaption title=\"NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MAY 17: Dejection for West Ham United's Jarrod Bowen during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and West Ham United at St James' Park on May 17, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)\">Photo by Rob Newell \u2013 CameraSport via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>West Ham have failed to apply any pressure on a team who have consistently been accused of wilting in the face of it. Yes, the battle has\u00a0waged on\u00a0more than people might have expected, but it\u00a0appears to be\u00a0over before the final day. <\/p>\n<p>The Irons had the chance to really make things interesting and they failed to take it in spectacular fashion. There\u2019s now a sense of apathy about it all here in east London, which is perhaps the worst thing one can feel about a game built on emotion. <\/p>\n<div class=\"see-more-wrapper lazy see-more-open see-more-blank extra-content\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.hammers.news\/news\/roberto-de-zerbi-issues-blunt-response-to-west-hams-defeat-to-newcastle-united\/none\" data-type=\"subscribe\">\n<div class=\"see-more subscribe\">\n<figure class=\"newsletter\">\n<div><svg class=\"loading\" width=\"118\" height=\"36\" viewbox=\"0 0 118 36\"><use href=\"#dots-svg\"\/><\/svg><\/p>\n<div class=\"signup\"><span class=\"hf\">Join Our Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><script>grvLoadAnalytics = () => {(function(d,s,i){var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)(0),j=d.createElement(s);j.async=true;j.src=\"https:\/\/www.googletagmanager.com\/gtag\/js?id=\"+i;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(document,'script','G-YXV2JYYXJC');(function(d,s,i){if(!\/callback=in\/.test(window.location.search)){var e=d.createElement(s);var n=d.getElementsByTagName(s)(0);e.type=\"text\/javascript\";e.async=true;e.src=\"https:\/\/static.chartbeat.com\/js\/chartbeat.js\";n.parentNode.insertBefore(e,n);}})(document,\"script\",\"G-YXV2JYYXJC\");(function(){let s=document.createElement(\"script\");s.async=true;s.dataset.domain=\"hammers.news\/9EBwb0\";s.src=\"https:\/\/api.publytics.net\/js\/script.manual.ping.min.js\";document.getElementsByTagName(\"head\")(0).appendChild(s);})();if(!\/callback=in\/.test(window.location.search)){setTimeout(function(){!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=();t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)(0);s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script','https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');fbq('init','1190605555050698');fbq('track','PageView');fbq('track','ViewContent',{content_name:'Roberto De Zerbi issues blunt response to West Ham&#8217;s defeat to Newcastle United',content_category:'News',content_ids:(317343,\"premier-league\"),content_type:'post',});},3000);}}<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Add as preferred source on Google West Ham United\u2019s defeat to Newcastle United changes nothing&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10373,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10372","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10372","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10372"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10372\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10373"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10372"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10372"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10372"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}