With a victory at Freiburg on Thursday, David Moyes would become the first manager in the history of West Ham to be unbeaten in 17 straight European games.
West Ham United manager David Moyes is on the verge of making history if they can go unbeaten for the 17th time in a row in Europe on Thursday night – the greatest run by any English team ever.
West Ham are level on 16 points with Don Revie’s Leeds from 1968 and Bill Nicholson’s Tottenham from 1972 as they meet Freiburg in the Europa League tonight in Germany.
David Moyes’ West Ham United are on the verge of making history by being unbeaten in 17 successive European games against Freiburg.
‘I had no idea,’ admitted Moyes, who won the Europa Conference League in June. ‘They’re hardly bad names, are they? Over a lengthy period of time in English football, two exceptionally outstanding managers. If we can do that, it will be a huge accomplishment. Let’s hope this trend continues.
‘The excitement of being in Europe… for a long, long time it hasn’t been in the club’s DNA, these sorts of nights. We have not been a European club. We are now. We are now into our third year in a row in Europe. I take pride in that. We certainly don’t take it for granted.’
West Ham will face Freiburg with no away fans owing to a UEFA ban, but Moyes is optimistic about another long run in Europe.
Asked if European football is now imprinted in the West Ham DNA, Moyes added: ‘We have started to get a tiny taste of what it is like and what you need to accomplish. I remarked last year that I hoped we’d be in Europe after Christmas. I’m still stating the same thing. Last year, we won the European Championship. It would be a huge accomplishment if we could make it to February, March, and April in Europe next year.
Due to an adductor injury, Michail Antonio has not travelled, thus Danny Ings is expected to start up front, unless Moyes opts for Jarrod Bowen in the middle. Bowen expects to be named to Gareth Southgate’s England squad on Thursday.
