Ray Parlour believes West Ham can go all the way in the Europa League
West Ham have as good a chance as anybody to go on and win the Europa League, according to pundit and Arsenal legend Ray Parlour.
The Hammers dropped points in the competition for the first time this campaign on Thursday night, drawing 2-2 at Genk. However, courtesy of Dinamo Zagreb’s victory over Rapid Vienna, David Moyes’ side have made it through to the knockout phase with two games remaining.
Ten points from their openings four games in Group H has begged the question: can West Ham actually find glory in Europe this season? According to Parlour, who was talking on TalkSport Breakfast, they absolutely can.
“I think they have a very good chance of winning it,” the former Premier League ace said. “The team they’ve got now, we’ve seen in the Premier League, compete every week, they’re scoring goals, (they’re) exciting to watch.
“All David Moyes has got to try and do, and he mentioned it in his interview (Thursday) night, is get that balance right. You know, he’s got to try and keep people fresh for the Premier League as well because they’re in a very good position,” he continued.
“It’s very hard, on all fronts, to keep doing what they’re doing but I think the club’s on a high at the moment. They really are.”
Soaring
With the opportunity of making history with a fourth straight clean sheet to kick off their Europa League campaign and the thought of the prestige of making it to the knockout phase with 18 points, West Ham’s 2-2 draw with Genk on Thursday night will feel disappointing.
However, while that sole Group H point will seem a kick in the teeth, it must be noted that the Hammers thoroughly dominated the second half – and arguably deserved to come home with all three points.
David Moyes’ men have taken Europe by storm, emphatically earning ten points from a possible 12. Now with knockout football on the horizon, they can feel confident in themselves.
Of course, with the likes of Lyon, Bayer Leverkusen and Napoli all seemingly destined for the last 32 (as well as the third-placed Champions League sides), there will be tremendous competition.
But very few sides, as Parlour has indicated, compete so fervently with collective desire. Moyes has a machine that seems to develop week in week out on his hands.
And on current form, there is no reason for the Hammers to limit themselves.
In other West Ham news, Declan Rice has revealed what the Hammers squad did for Moyes after his 1000th game in football management.