David Moyes wants West Ham to shoot for the stars and battle for European football every season

West Ham United v Sheffield United - Premier League - London Stadium
PA
Jack Rosser @JackRosser_19 February 2021

David Moyes says he wants to shoot for the stars at West Ham and keep them battling at the top season after season.

The Hammers have been the surprise package in the Premier League this season. As clubs around them struggle with the schedule and falter, Moyes and his squad sit level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea and go into this weekend's derby against Tottenham six points clear of the north Londoners.

Some feel that the Irons will never get a chance to break the top six like this again having been relegation candidates only last season, but Moyes wants to take this opportunity to build something more.

"I expect us to do it again," said the Scot, who hopes to have Michail Antonio back for Sunday's game. "I expect us to do it next year and I expect us to do it the year after, because that's my job and I'm going to try and make sure that we are a team who's consistently challenging round the top regularly.

"So to say this is your chance to do it or you're not going to do it at all, it's not that way I'm building and what I want to do at the club. I want to build something which is going to be consistent and regular.

"I take your point: you have to take your opportunities when they come along, you know, whether it be in games or whatever. But I'm hoping this is going to be a regular thing and not something which we just do once in a while. I want to get away from that feeling that you have to take this chance now. We're in a really good position for the points we're taking, are we going to try and maximise it? Of course we are."

Moyes has always vowed to promise less and deliver more during his time at West Ham, but their rapid improvement under the former Manchester United manager has many wondering just how far the east Londoners can go under his guidance.

Does Moyes think his West Ham could - one day - mount a Premier League title challenge?

"You always want to shoot for the stars and I'll always try and do that if I can," he said.

"I think you always want to think, 'How can I have a chance of winning it?' At the moment it's way too soon. Even with European football, it's not that I don't want to talk about it but I just want everyone to realise we're making great strides and we need to be careful that we don't disappoint.

"I said at the start that we're not going to promise things we can't deliver. I can't promise we can finish in the Champions League, or Europa League; what I can promise is that we're going to be a Premier League team next season which a lot of people would've accepted. We're hoping that we can over-deliver (this season) but I can't give that answer until another three months' time."

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