Stuart Pearce: We're proud of the performance we've put in

 

 

West Ham United assistant coach Stuart Pearce hailed a great night for the Football Club after they ended Manchester City's four-year reign as Carabao Cup winners on Wednesday night.

The Hammers won 5-3 on penalties after battling to a 0-0 draw against Pep Guardiola's team, once again showing all the qualities that have carried the team to fourth in the Premier League and the top of their UEFA Europa League Group.

And with 60,000 fans packing London Stadium - including many families in the half-term break - Pearce was delighted to reward them with a memorable win over the Citizens.

 

It's a great night for the football club.

And that's the football club in general - not just the playing staff, the coaching staff or anyone of that nature. It's a wonderful night for the football club and it's all part of our growing process.

We've shown a real unity right across the board at all levels of the Club, and we're so proud of the performance that the team put on in front of a full house for a Carabao Cup game.

So, credit to everyone connected with the football club, it's been a very enjoyable evening.

 

West Ham United is a great place to be right now.

It's pleasing to be around and Rush Green is an enjoyable working environment I have to say.

A lot of the credit, if not all the credit, has to go down to our manager - he drives everybody on from the players to the staff members on a daily basis.

His energy is infectious to all of us and we're drawing on his experience - he's closing in on 1,000 matches as a manager and that takes some doing.

 

 

Craig Dawson celebrates with Mark Noble

 

We showed what we're about all over the pitch tonight.

Tomáš has a couple of chances, Yarma too in the second half, but right across the board, our resilience was there for all to see tonight.

We're really pleased as a group - it's all part of our learning, we know we can improve and will improve as a Club, but we're just pleased with tonight.

 

Alphonse Areola was outstanding in goal.

He got his body in the way, or his legs and his body when he had to, and what you need at a healthy football club is to have a big squad.

We're under the pressures of the European campaign as well, so we're fighting on many fronts and the important thing is that when the manager decides to make one or two changes so far this season this season, everyone who has come in has put a real shift in for the team.

 

We were flawless from the spot and you can't ask for any more than that.

I have to give Nobes, our Club captain, the credit he deserves after missing a penalty early in the season. He went back out there and the five penalties we took were absolutely sensational.

 

It was great to see so many youngsters in tonight.

They are the next generation as a supporter or even a player potentially. A young Mark Noble I'm sure many years ago would have gone to Upton Park and been inspired watching a game of football.

That's what you hope to do and that's what football should be about.