(Reuters) – West Ham United’s exceptional rise from mid-table mediocrity to potential prime 4 challengers is all the way down to a change in mindset within the squad, with the membership now centered on catching up with the title contenders, supervisor David Moyes stated on Tuesday.
Moyes, who dragged West Ham from the brink of relegation in 2019-20 to a membership document factors complete final season, has guided the team to fourth place with 28 factors after 16 video games this marketing campaign.
He has overseen league victories over Liverpool and Chelsea whereas they knocked out Manchester United and holders Manchester City within the League Cup. They subsequent play away at sixth-placed Arsenal within the league on Wednesday.
“We’re in a nice place the place we’re going into the sport forward of Arsenal. We completed forward of them final season which was a big achievement,” Moyes informed reporters.
“We’re a little little bit of the membership which different groups are making an attempt to catch and problem in the intervening time, so I’m saying ‘deliver it on’ – we’ll take it on and see how we get on. We really feel as if we are able to play towards any team.
“It’s big, we’re in a robust place and can attempt to keep there so long as we are able to. We’re not wanting again – we’re making an attempt to see if we are able to catch the groups above us, however we’re properly conscious of the energy of the groups above us.”
Since their return to the highest flight in 2012, West Ham have by no means completed greater than final season’s sixth place, ending within the backside half of the desk six occasions.
West Ham additionally superior to the final 16 of the Europa League, sealing qualification with a sport to spare.
“A mindset change has been a big half. We’ve needed to attempt to be organised towards groups who are good with the ball and used to profitable,” Moyes added.
“We’re nonetheless within the technique of making an attempt to construct a squad and team that may be aggressive. At the second, we’re a little bit forward of schedule of the place we must be, however now we’re right here we’re not going to offer it up.
“We’re going to maintain pushing… There are different groups coming to us now who are making it more durable to attain towards – that is a part of changing into a big team, different groups will strive onerous to cease you.”
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
