David Moyes says reaching a European final with West Ham would be his biggest achievement as a manager.
The tactician said this while addressing the media ahead of West Ham’s Europa Conference League semi-final first leg tie with AZ Alkmaar on Thursday.
This is the back to back European semifinals for the Hammers after they reached the last four of the Europa League last season – where their journey ended at the same stage after losing 3-1 to eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt.
“To get to a European final, it could be my best [achievement]. In the past I’ve got to a Champions League quarter-final with Manchester United, lost on penalties in the quarter-final of the Europa League with Everton and last year we reached a semi-final here at West Ham.
“I want to try and take it a couple of steps further, and I would refer back to the serial winner Jose Mourinho – who found winning this trophy so special for him and his football club.
“If ever I needed somebody to show how hard it was to win a trophy, and he treated it as if it was so important.”
Moyes and his side head into this game against the Dutch side beaming with confidence after Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United and are also still unbeaten in the Conference League with 11 wins in 12 games.
“We can breathe a little more easily after the result at the weekend,” Moyes added. “Our results in Europe have been really good, scoring goals and winning both home and away.
“We have to keep that going and if we do then we have a great chance of getting to the final. But first, we have an opponent who we cannot underestimate in any way.”
