‘We want to’: Declan Rice explains West Ham target in ‘new’ scenario for David Moyes’ side

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Declan Rice believes West Ham United are tackling every competition they enter this season with the mentality that David Moyes’ side can win it, via the Evening Standard.

The Hammers vice-captain feels the club have taken a real sense of confidence after last term’s strong Premier League campaign. Moyes led the east London side to a sixth-place finish and claimed the Irons’ first Europa League group stage berth.

Only a two-point margin and goal-difference denied West Ham a Champions League spot as well, with Chelsea pipping ahead. The Blues lost just two fewer games and conceded 11 fewer goals than the Irons for a top-four spot.

Rice feels in reflection that West Ham left points on the table last season, but the Irons’ mentality is improving. Now, Moyes’ men feel they have chances at silverware, and want to win the Europa League at their first try.

“We can achieve good things,” Rice said. “Last season, we finished three-points off the Champions League [positions] and easily could have got into that.

“You look back now and there are games that we really should have won. In cup competitions, knocking Man United out the other night. I’ve played in teams before where we’ve been knocked out early.

“I feel like the mentality around the place is that every competition we’re entering is that we can go on and win. This is a new one we’re entering, and we want to win that.”

Can West Ham and Rice win the Europa League this season?

West Ham and Rice showed no signs of their Europa League inexperience against Dinamo Zagreb a fortnight ago. The London Stadium natives took control of proceedings and took a flawless 2-0 win in Croatia. With Rice and Michail Antonio getting on the scoresheet.

Moyes will hope Rice and Antonio lead West Ham to another UEFA win on Thursday when they host Rapid Vienna. The Austrian outfit lost to Genk in their opening group stage clash, and arrive in England struggling for form.

Rapid Vienna have only won one of their last six games in all competitions, coming against Flyeralarm Admira in the Austrian Cup. Their two wins in nine league fixtures also leaves Dietmar Kuhbauer’s side just 11th in the 12-team Austrian Bundesliga standings.