Exclusive: David Moyes hungry for UEFA Europa League glory after getting 'taste' for European success with West Ham
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Updated 14/03/2024 at 11:44 GMT
West Ham may be 1-0 down after the first leg of their UEFA Europa League last-16 clash against Freiburg, but manager David Moyes has far from written off their chances of still progressing. The Hammers faced a similar hurdle to overcome in the competition two years ago, but beat Sevilla after extra-time. Moyes believes his team can achieve a similar comeback as he targets more European glory.
David Moyes, manager of West Ham United, celebrates with the trophy following the UEFA Europa Conference League 2022/23 final match between ACF Fiorentina and West Ham United FC.
Image credit: Getty Images
David Moyes admits that now he has got a "taste" of European success, he is desperate for more trophies at West Ham United.
The Scot guided the club to the UEFA Europa Conference League title last season as they beat Fiorentina 2-1 in the final.
That was the first major tournament success of his long and distinguished managerial career, ending the Hammers' 42-year wait for glory in the process.
Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of Thursday evening's second-leg clash with Freiburg, Moyes now believes their heroic run to lifting the trophy in Prague has well and truly put the Hammers on the map in European football.
"I think to be a cup-winning team, especially in Europe, is not something that happens to too many," he said ahead of the match, which will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
"You hear supporters still singing songs of the competitions they've won 10, 20 years ago, because they relate to it and look back at it as being a really important part of the club's history.
"I hope this one for West Ham supporters is really important to them, and I'm sure it is, because we as players and staff were thrilled by the result.
"We were thrilled by the trip we were on and Prague will live in our memory for a long time."
Success in the UEFA Europa Conference League means the Hammers qualified for the UEFA Europa League this season, and they remain on course to lift yet more silverware, having reached the last 16 of the competition.
However, they have it all to do to make it through to the quarter-finals, as they trail Freiburg 1-0 following the first leg in Germany.
Moyes is now calling on his players to channel the heroics of the 2021/22 team, who reached the semi-finals in this competition, but only after an incredible comeback against Sevilla in the last 16.
"This game smells a little bit like Seville," he continued. "We have to come from behind.
"I think West Ham are probably quite often used to being the underdogs and having to fight for it and show what we're all about. We've got an opportunity to show we can do that."
Sevilla win 'gripped everyone'
Indeed, that Sevilla game holds a special place in Moyes' memory bank.
A Munir El Haddad strike in Spain had given Julen Lopetegui's side a 1-0 lead in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League last-16 tie, only for Tomas Soucek to score in the return fixture and send the tie to extra time.
It was then Andriy Yarmolenko who wrote his name into the club's history books by scoring in the 112th minute to earn a famous 2-1 victory.
The Hammers would eventually lose in the semi-finals to Frankfurt, but Moyes believes it was that goal, in the club's first run of note in a continental competition since reaching the Cup Winners' Cup quarter-finals in 1981, that lit the blue touch paper in terms of their European ambitions.
"I think you have to remember Sevilla were winners, I don't know how many times," he added. "They were so good in the competition. They've won the competition a few times.
"For us to go to Seville and lose 1-0 and then come back and beat them in extra time at our place was a huge, huge result. I think that probably gripped everybody.
"Yarmolenko scores the winner in extra time, so I think there were lots of things in it which made it absolutely so positive.
"I do believe that those couple of nights, Seville, Lyon [in the quarter-finals], when maybe the noises we've heard in the stadium, it's something we've always wanted to do.
"I wasn't here when West Ham first moved to the London Stadium, but I think the board, David Sullivan, came out and said that they were looking forward to European football back at the London Stadium. Well, that's happened in the last few years.
"When you taste it [European trophy success], you want to go again. I'm looking forward to this game now."
How to watch West Ham v Freiburg in the UEFA Europa League
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West Ham v Freiburg will be live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate with coverage from 17:00 UK time on Thursday, March 14.
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