David Moyes has been speaking to the media as West Ham United hope to reach a first major European final in over 40 years.
In the Irons way stands a trip to AZ Alkmaar, one the Hammers make knowing a draw will be enough for a place in the UEFA Europa Conference League final on 7 June.
Moyes' men are unbeaten in all 13 of their first fixtures in the competition, drawing just once, and head to AZ with a one-goal advantage following a 2-1 win at London Stadium last week.
Moyes spoke about what he expects from AZ infront of their own fans, his hopes of making history, and why he is confident the Hammers can finish the season strongly both in domestic and European competition.
For us to reach a final would be a great achievement and it would be a step forward.
It would be us trying to strive to move forward, because there have been a couple of steps backwards, but getting to a final would be another step forward. Every club needs a final, every club needs European football if they can get it. It’s a thrill that we’re in this situation.
For me and this group of players, it’s a huge game.
We want to reach a cup final, but again we have a really difficult opponent. We have to play really well to reach the final, we’re going to have to earn it and we know that. There are no gimmes in football and any team in the semi-finals at this level have to be a good side. So we have big respect for any team who has got to this stage.
AZ is doing remarkably well in the Dutch league and have done for a few years.
I think it will be a pretty open game. AZ have shown what they’re capable of when they’ve been behind and we’re unbeaten in Europe this year. With all those things added together, for me, it’s looking like an interesting game.
Their record is very good, but I have been here and won before [with Everton in the UEFA Europa League group stage in December 2007].
I remember it well and I have to do it again tomorrow night. I remember the game well because I have a lot of respect for Louis Van Gaal, who was the [AZ] coach [in 2007]. I was still a very young coach and learning my way. I have always enjoyed coming to the Netherlands, playing in youth tournaments, or being around and watching the football. I just remember the victory, it was my Dad who reminded me of it. He was out here then and will be again tomorrow night.
There is very little in it.
If it was the other way around, and we were a goal down, we would say we still have to go for it: it’s a great chance. I don’t see it being a big advantage. It is an open game, and we are going to have to take it on. But we have to be ready for whatever comes our way, we understand it. Every game in the Premier League is so difficult, there are different styles, different levels of physicality. We will be ready for the game tomorrow.
I have said many times that when you are trying to build a football club it doesn’t always go in one direction.
You have setbacks, sometimes it doesn’t go the way you want it to do. But I think being in Europe, for the supporters and everyone involved in the Club, it has been an incredible journey we have had, this season and last season. To be in the semi-final of the Europa League last year was a great run for us and this year we have got into another semi-final. So, that takes some doing, and I have to say the players have done a brilliant job [to achieve that].
The players have done so well over the last two years, better than I thought – I thought it would be harder to adapt.
It would be huge if we could make Europe again. It would be three years in a row for West Ham in a really difficult and competitive league to get to the top of. To do it three years in a row, through winning the Conference League, but first of all, we have a semi-final to navigate.
So for our Club to finish twice [sixth and then seventh], and to get to the Conference League this year, we were thrilled to have European football again. It was so important for our Club. We have to do a good job. We are playing against a good side, a good footballing team, and we have to do the job that is required.
I think we took a lot away from [last year’s run in Europe] it because we had to beat Sevilla and Lyon [to get to the semi-final].
We felt that we got into a really good position and our form was good but, in the end, maybe a lack of experience at that end of the competition might have taken its toll. And we are hoping to learn from that, and get a bit better, and we are all really hoping we can make that step and get to the final.
I think the players are more experienced generally. You have to remember West Ham hadn’t been in Europe for a fair few years before last year.
So, last year was our first year and we have navigated most of it in a good way. And I have to say, we have done very much the same this year. We have navigated it very well to get to this point of the competition.
In many years we have all learned from Dutch football, some great players, and great national teams.
In the UK we’ve always tried to pick up and be better. We’ve got lots of different coaches from all nationalities now, so it’s making our league much more interesting and changeable with lots of good football.
We are up against a very difficult opponent, who has played against some very good teams and knocked some very good teams out of the competition.
We have to do what they have to do in the game and so do we. It’s as big a game for them as it is for us and we’ll have to earn everything we can tomorrow.
