Then there was the square storm: unity Frankfurt has reached a European Cup final for the third time after 1960 and 1980 – and the followers knew no stopping. After the final whistle, they stormed onto the pitch to celebrate with the players. The British Media felt sorry for the traditional London team and spoke of a “heartbreaking semi-final game”.
“The Guardians”: “The disappointment was too hard for West Ham to take. Even David Moyes had lost control as a demoralizing night came to an end deep in the German forest. A heroic comeback was long out of the question. And so was Moyes’ team struggling with just ten players, nothing made her lack of composure more evident than the sight of her coach.”
“Daily Mail”: “Moyes’ freak out towards the end of the game summed up a sad evening for West Ham.”
“Daily Mirror”: “It was the disappointing end to a wonderful European season for the Hammers, who knocked out Sevilla and Lyon in the knockout phase. (…) The fact that West Ham were down a man in the first 20 minutes, turned a difficult task into a highly unlikely proposition and sent the team to a painful elimination.”
“The Times”: “David Moyes was sent off in the second half for angrily kicking the ball at a ball boy, a bizarre and ugly ending to an excellent adventure in the competition.”
“The Sun”: “What David Moyes’ players lack in quality they make up for in personality and fighting spirit. But there are few moments when you can escape certain defeat, as that heartbreaking semi-final match demonstrated.”