Thank goodness we didn't need to win today

  • by Staff Writer
  • Sunday, 26th July 2020

David Moyes says he is "thrilled" for his players after they managed to stave off the threat of relegation - but admitted he was grateful his side weren't involved in the final day relegation scrap.

It was Bournemouth and Watford who were relegated to the Championship while Aston Villa survived the drop after securing a point against the Hammers in Stratford.

And Moyes, speaking to the media following the final whistle on Sunday admitted he was delighted West Ham didn't have a horse in this particular race. "I am thrilled for how well our players have done," he said.


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"We didn't play as well today as we have done but it was always going to be a tight game and thank goodness our players took us to a situation where we didn't need to consider today's game as much as we would have done.

"From that point of view, I am pleased with the players. They have done really, really well. Their performances against Chelsea here, getting a point at Manchester United. It is only praise for the players.

"The teams at the bottom of the league made it much more competitive. As you could see today there were three teams going for it and we only got ourselves safe on Wednesday, so it has been a tough haul.

"Us winning and drawing the last two, playing well in the last four actually, has been very very good. Apart from the opening games of lockdown, we only had one defeat and we were unlucky not to get a draw from it [against Burnley].

"What we have seen has given us real encouragement. I think the players need a break. Then they’ll come back and we will take it up a notch. They need time to reflect, then come back."


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And Moyes admitted that the "expectation" associated with West Ham since the club's move to Stratford four years ago had weighed heavily upon both him and his squad of players - while maintaining that he felt it more than during his previous spell at the club two years ago.

"I feel this season has been a lot tougher," he surmised. There has been a lot of expectation on West Ham this time.

"But there always will be because it is a well supported, big London club. And the expectation is there because there was a lot of money spent over the years and the team should be higher up the league.

"But you tend to finish where you deserve to be and we have to make sure we improve on that, if we can.

"I want high standards in all the games. I want a group of players that will give me a level of consistency. I can’t put it down to practice on the training ground but I need to drive that home. I am hoping we can get more towards that as we go on."

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