David Moyes keeping West Ham’s focus on Premier League
![West Ham United v Sevilla – UEFA Europa League – Round of Sixteen – Second Leg – London Stadium](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wsJxDcGcwPxkf3Ycw5ePrQ-1200-80.jpg)
West Ham boss David Moyes insists his priority remains the Premier League despite the club’s heroics in Europe.
The Hammers secured a first continental quarter-final in 41 years when they dumped six-time winners Sevilla out of the Europa League on Thursday night.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, West Ham hauled themselves level through Tomas Soucek’s header and then won it in extra-time thanks to Andriy Yarmolenko’s strike.
It was a euphoric, historic night for the Hammers, but they head straight back to the day job on Sunday with a derby trip to top-six rivals Tottenham.
“They’re all important, whether it is a team at the bottom or the top,” said Moyes.
“It’s a derby for West Ham and Tottenham, so we know it’ll be a difficult game.
“Where you finish in the league gets you the chance to qualify for Europe. It’s your bread and butter as far as I’m concerned.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
“Being in cup competitions adds to what we’re trying to do and teaches us how to make strides forward.
“At the moment, we’ve got a big game coming up – it’s a hard game – and we know we’re going to be tested to the maximum.”
A trip to Spurs looks a tough ask for a thin squad who came through 120 intense minutes just three days earlier.
Michail Antonio, an injury doubt beforehand, only came off very late into extra-time, while Declan Rice was limping towards the end.
“We have a few limping, but you expect that after a tough game,” added Moyes.
“We’ll assess them all and see how they are. It’s a bit early to know a lot about the team.
“We’re a resilient group of players and we hope that we’ll all be fine and we’ll go again.
“I think an extra day (off) would help anybody, but we’re pleased we’re in the Europa League and that we’ve qualified.
“I’d have taken that any day and now we’ll get ready for the Tottenham game.”
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack