David Moyes defends decision to start Kurt Zouma in West Ham win over Watford
Kurt Zouma booed by Watford fans after cat controversy
Defender lined up for West Ham despite police investigation into animal cruelty.
West Ham boss David Moyes has defended his decision to start Kurt Zouma in the win over Watford.
Zouma has come out and apologised after he was videoed being cruel to a cat this week.
It has prompted a police enquiry and West Ham immediately and publicly condemned the defender's actions.
However, Moyes opted to start Zouma against Watford, with the Frenchman relentlessly booed and criticised by the traveling Watford fans throughout.
Moyes, though, was remorseless for his decision to start Zouma, insisting his job to win football matches comes first.
"I'm really disappointed, and the club have taken all the action they can do at the moment behind the scenes," Moyes explained. "My job is to pick the best team and Kurt was part of that.
"I'm a big animal lover and it's something that will have affected a lot of people.
"I was completely disappointed with what I saw and what I was told, but my job was to try and find a way to get a win for West Ham. Some people will be disappointed and I understand that.
"I'm someone who cares a lot about my dogs and my horses. The club are dealing with it as you well know.
"I've already spoken to him and we'll move on as much as we can. We understand it's not something everybody is pleased about. It's a really poor situation.
"Was it the wrong call? My feeling was Kurt's apologised. I understand lots of people won't just accept that. But I had to do my job then, and that was to pick the best team I could.
"He's obviously really disappointed and we've all felt it through the team and through the club. We are all of the same feeling it was completely out of order from Kurt and we didn't expect that.
"I always felt I had to try and separate them and let the club do their side and I'll do my side which is the football side. I think you are talking to one of the most disciplinary managers there is.
"It's something which we are all really disappointed with and the club are dealing with it. Kurt is in our first XI so my decision was to play him."
