After a first win of 2024 for West Ham you’d expect David Moyes to be in a better mood than he displayed in an interview on beIN Sports.
After two long, miserable months without a win, West Ham finally tasted victory when they beat Brentford 4-2 in the Premier League on Monday night.
It was just what the Hammers and the manager needed given the mounting pressure.
Not that you’d know it from one of David Moyes’ post match interviews.
Rather than embrace the good vibes, the manager has let himself down somewhat.
I reported on Moyes pointing the finger of blame squarely at the media for his West Ham contract soap opera.
And it seems he took his frustrations out on one unfortunate reporter in particular.
Moyes turns on reporter despite perfectly reasonable questions
Footage of a spiky Moyes interview with beIN Sports after the West Ham win has emerged and it leaves a sour taste.
The Scot has been labelled ‘arrogant’ and ‘obnoxious’ by some fans for the way he conducted himself in an interview with the Qatari channel’s reporter. And it’s easy to see why.
In the face of what were perfectly reasonable questions about his situation and the team, Moyes rounds on the reporter.
And as the reporter is asking one particular question, Moyes can be seen rolling his eyes at what we presume is West Ham’s PR officer off screen.
Then when the reporter asks a question which actually defends Moyes and the team, the Hammers boss bizarrely turns on him over his line of questioning.
beIN Sports reporter irritated Hammers boss
beIN Sports reporter: Despite all this talk of doom and gloom you’re still in eighth place, you’re not far away from European spots as well. What do you make of the criticism towards the players, the club and towards you as well in recent weeks?
Moyes: Well I thought your first two questions were a bit doom and gloom but I’ve done my best to brighten them up to be honest. And to be honest we’re doing a brilliant job here and I thought your first two questions were a bit like that (doom and gloom).
beIN Sports reporter: In terms of moving forward do you think this win will change the narrative and do you think this feels like the turning of a corner for the club?
Moyes: I don’t actually know what the narrative is that you’re talking about to be honest. All I could tell you is that I think we’re in a really good position, we’ve not had a particularly good month or so, we’d like to play much better, we see that, we’d like to win more often but in the main I think we’ve done a lot of good things.
We can all have a bad day but Moyes conduct not on
In mitigation the number of interviews and press conferences managers have to do nowadays must take its toll.
But it’s the price on the ticket when you are a Premier League manager or player.
The reality is Moyes isn’t used to having things put to him so directly.
And he clearly didn’t like it.
But the manager is only human. We all have bad days. It just jars because it comes after a long awaited first win in nine attempts.
There is no escaping the fact the interview makes for uncomfortable viewing at times. There was no need for the manager to be so curt with the interviewer who was respectful throughout.
After the game Moyes was also spotted heading straight down the tunnel.
And it all points to a man who – rightly or wrongly – feels aggrieved to be under pressure.
Given the job the Scot has done at the London Stadium that’s understandable.
But there is a way to speak to people and this does not reflect particularly well on Moyes.
It would be interesting to see what Moyes’ media mates and beIN anchors Richard Keys and Andy Gray made of it.
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