Daniel Kretinsky steps up at West Ham with Champions League wanted
Frank McAvennie has told West Ham United to emulate Aston Villa and aim for a top-four finish in the Premier League next season.
Villa defied the odds to finish above Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham in 2023/24, earning a place in the Champions League as a result.
And McAvennie – speaking exclusively to West Ham Zone – feels Daniel Kretinsky will be pushing the Hammers to be more ambitious next term from behind the scenes.
“Apparently [Kretinsky is] stepping up and [having] a lot more to do with it and he will want a winning team,” McAvennie said.
“He will want to be the team that crept in [to the top four] like Aston Villa this year. He will want West Ham to be that.
“You’re not going to compete all the time with your Man Citys or your Liverpools – but when Man United were down there, Tottenham were down there, Aston Villa stepped up and beat them [to fourth place] and that’s what West Ham have got to do.”
Can West Ham United finish in the top four next season?
New Hammers head coach Julen Lopetegui certainly boasts prior experience of steering a team into the top four and securing Champions League qualification – having done so for three consecutive seasons in LaLiga with Sevilla.
However – while Villa certainly deserve credit for their remarkable achievement – it must be noted that Manchester United and Chelsea both endured shockingly poor seasons by their standards, finishing eighth and sixth, respectively.
Tottenham, too, will feel aggrieved that they failed to take advantage of the pair’s misfortune, finishing fifth after a flying start to the season.
For Lopetegui to help the Hammers emulate Villa’s achievement next season, he will have to improve the side – but they may also need their top-four rivals to slip up.
In other West Ham news, McAvennie was stunned by what Mohammed Kudus did recently.
For more West Ham news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.