David Moyes committed to continuing West Ham overhaul ahead of Sevilla test
David Moyes argues on the touchline
David Moyes says he is driven by a desire to prove he is the right manager for West Ham and demanded his players embrace the challenge of qualifying for Europe every season.
The Hammers travel to Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan on Thursday for a Europa League Round of 16 first-leg clash against four-time competition winners Sevilla, with Moyes determined to keep the club on an upward curve.
The Scot returned to the London Stadium in December 2019 to replace Manuel Pellegrini - having guided the club to safety in a seven-month spell from November 2017 in his first spell in charge - and believes his journey is only just beginning.
"I had something to prove when I came back. Something to show," he told reporters.
"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.
"I felt I had to drive things on and make sure they saw the best of me. From my point of view, it's been complete energy from me that I can drive on."
The 58-year-old has transformed West Ham from relegation candidates to genuine top-four challengers but is convinced there is more to come from his players and suggested they should not be overawed by the prospect of their biggest night in Europe in 41 years.
??? Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium, Seville, Spain pic.twitter.com/haAORa4WpN
— West Ham United (@WestHam) March 9, 2022
He said: "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 want this 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, from mid-table to challenging for Europe, now we're talking in terms of Champions League football. We have moved a big amount in a short space of time."
