Bernardo Rosa believes West Ham United U23s created more than enough opportunities to beat their Manchester United counterparts, despite losing 3-1 in their Premier League 2 clash on Saturday.
Dan Chesters had levelled for the Hammers following D’Mani Mellor’s opening effort, and a strong response from the away side made it difficult to see Mark Robson’s team leaving without three points.
However, Mellor struck again after an hour before Connor Stanley scored one-on-one with Krisztian Hegyi late on, leaving the Irons without anything to show for their efforts.
We had a lot of opportunities, good chances to score, and on another day we would have taken them and won this game.
Bernardo Rosa
“It was a tough game,” Rosa reflected to whufc.com. “I think we had a lot of opportunities, good chances to score, and on another day we would have taken them and won this game.
“It should have been a bigger score-line for us and, on another day, it would have been and we would have the win and three points.
“Everyone feels that we played reasonably well and created a lot of opportunities. It just came down to some individual mistakes, but we played good in this game. Generally, we can be happy with we performed but we just need to work on those mistakes.”
Rosa has made his home at right-back in the last few months, taking on more defensive responsibility for the side after beginning his time at West Ham as an attacking midfielder or winger.
The 21-year-old is relishing life in the role and is happy with the opportunities that come with playing in the back line.
He continued: “I feel good. I’ve been playing at right-back for some time now so I’ve gotten used to the role and the responsibilities that come with it.
“It’s always good to get the chance to play and hopefully I can get even more chances in the coming weeks and months. It’s good to get minutes, so every opportunity that comes my way, I want to take.”
With defeat against Manchester United meaning it is back-to-back losses for West Ham U23s, Rosa is determined the side will return to winning ways when they take on Swansea City in the Premier League Cup on Friday.
“Swansea City will be a tough game. They’re a good team, they play well and they’re very competitive. I’m hopeful I can retain my place in the team in this match and hopefully we can get the result we want.”