David Moyes pleased to prove club bosses wrong, outlines ‘new West Ham’ vision
David Moyes feels he’s proving the club wrong in his second spell as he outlined his vision for the “new West Ham” ahead of the club’s clash with Sevilla.
The Scot kept the Hammers in the Premier League in 2018 but was not given a permanent deal, with Manuel Pellegrini who Moyes eventually replaced, chosen instead.
Ahead of the Europa League last-16 tie with La Liga’s second-placed team, the long-time Everton boss has spoken about his motivation after leaving the club before, and the level he sees the Irons operating at from now on.
The 58-year-old said, via Football London: “I had something to prove when I came back. Something to show. West Ham didn’t take me the first time, when I felt we’d done enough. We all can get things wrong. I admire them for admitting they got it wrong.
“The team think they’re doing quite well at the moment, but I think they can do much better. I can see them going to that level more often.
“I expect my players to win. If we play Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City.
“I want it to be the new West Ham. The new West Ham that qualifies for Europe. The new West Ham that fills a stadium because the football is good and we have young, exciting players. This time last year I felt Europe was a possibility. Prior to that, we were about avoiding relegation, that was the job.
“To think of where we have come in one year.”
Backing it up
Despite successfully steering the club clear of relegation few could have expected the change Moyes has brought about since.
After damaging experiences at Manchester United, Real Sociedad and Sunderland he appeared to be outdated.
But in leading the Hammers into the European knock-out stages, and back towards the top of the table again in the league, he has arguably enhanced his reputation past where it was after over a decade at Goodison Park.
Overcoming Sevilla would only add to that, but the season is balanced on a knife-edge currently.
It is a long time since the strong showing in the group stage, and the empty transfer window has put a bit of a dampener on the first-half of the season.
The limp exit from the FA Cup hasn’t helped that, but the team is still grinding out results in the Premier League.
But getting past Julen Lopetegui’s side, and potentially going further, along with securing European qualification again through league position would suggest Moyes’ vision has arrived.
The summer will be huge either way, as he gets another opportunity in the transfer market, arguably his biggest weakness so far.
In other West Ham news, there has been fan trouble in Seville ahead of tonight’s game.
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