‘Have to give credit to’: Moyes admits West Ham stars have already met his early target

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David Moyes admits his aim for the season was to see West Ham United competing in the Europa League after Christmas with top spot in Group H now realistic, via football.london.

The Irons can clinch first-place and a spot in the last 16 of the competition by beating Rapid Vienna. They travel to the Allianz Stadion on Thursday with a four-point lead over second.

Beating Hutteldorfer on the road will ensure the Hammers avoid a last 32 play-off tie with a Champions League side. The eight sides who finish third in their groups drop down into the Europa League to play the eight runners-up of their respective groups in a two-legged tie.

West Ham are already guaranteed to be in the Europa League after Christmas regardless of the result against Rapid Vienna. The Irons’ 2-2 draw with Genk earlier this month gave the east London side a six-point lead over the Blauw-Wit and the superior head-to-head record.

Moyes admits West Ham stars have already met his early Europa League target

Moyes only targeted Europa League football after Christmas as his aim for West Ham at the start of the season. He felt it would represent progress for the club, and credits his players for already meeting the objective with two games to spare and top spot now realistic.

“The competition is really exciting at the moment,” Moyes said. “We couldn’t wait for the draw, to see who we got, and I have to say the players have taken to it really well.

“Everybody talks about us being one of the favourites. But when you see the Champions League, I watched the games last night, looking at the teams who could finish third and drop into the Europa League, it becomes a completely different competition.

“I just wanted European football after Christmas time, I thought that would be progress for West Ham. I have to give credit to the whole squad for how they navigated the early games.”

Moyes will now want West Ham to beat Rapid Vienna on Thursday, and clinch their place in the last 16 of the Europa League with a group stage game to spare.

The Hammers boss will not want the London Stadium natives to host Dinamo Zagreb next month having to win. The Croatian outfit would overtake the Irons if they beat Genk on Thursday and then win in east London, if West Ham fail to take three-points in Austria.