David Moyes Reveals Exclusive Insights: How Europa Conference League Triumph Will Ignite West Ham's Future Success

West Ham recently secured victory in the Europa Conference League in Prague, and they are already making preparations for the upcoming season. In addition to a pre-season tour in Australia, they have now organized a media day at their academy. "We had a great time during the few days we were able to spend there," says David Moyes during the photocalls. "However, we didn't have much time off as we had to get back to work swiftly. Thus, this summer felt exceptionally short."

Not that he had any intention of altering it. The exhilarating victory over Fiorentina in the final moments of a grueling, 57-game season marked a pivotal moment for the club, as it secured their first significant title in decades and the manager's inaugural one.

"I intend to build upon this triumph and propel us even further forward - and we will relish every moment of it," Moyes asserts. "It is an unprecedented achievement for West Ham, who have not celebrated a trophy win in four decades."

Very few clubs in this country have the privilege of winning European trophies, hence it is something we will be constantly discussing and contemplating. However, in the meantime, we will also be focusing on progressing and preparing for the upcoming season.

It is crucial that we utilize this accomplishment as motivation to propel ourselves forward and make further improvements. Over the past three years, we have had a commendable streak in European competitions. The exceptional feat of finishing in Europe for three consecutive years is rare among other teams.

The possibility of embarking on another European journey is an exciting prospect for all those connected to the club. However, Moyes is currently prioritizing the readiness of his players for the upcoming challenges. Their Premier League season kicks off against Bournemouth on August 12th.

"We've only recently managed to regroup due to the delayed final and international games," Moyes explains. "As a whole team, we've only had a mere two days to reunite. Other than that, our time spent together has been quite limited."

The players express evident joy as they reunite, indulging in laughter and banter while fulfilling their media obligations on the adjacent indoor training pitch. Moyes himself appears composed and at ease.

"The pre-season is a rather enjoyable period for managers. It has always been a time of the year when you are not as burdened with the same pressure that comes with the start of the season.

"Although it is becoming increasingly challenging due to the speculation spread by certain individuals, we are unable to exert much control over the situation."

With a smile, he delivers the final line, yet the spotlight remains on transfers.

Earlier this month, West Ham witnessed a British record-breaking £105m transfer fee from Arsenal for their captain, Declan Rice. Despite the constant media speculation, the club has yet to secure any significant new signings.

Ongoing efforts are being made, with a glimpse of the work occurring behind the scenes as Moyes engages in a lengthy conversation with sporting director Mark Noble prior to joining us for this interview.

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Arsenal paid £105m to sign Declan Rice from West Ham

Noble, a former West Ham captain, assumed the role in January, making him relatively new to it. Tim Steidten, the club's new technical director, is an even more recent addition.

"It's a fresh start; new faces within the club," Moyes comments. "I have a longstanding connection with Mark and we share a great rapport. As for Tim, I am still in the process of familiarizing myself with him."

Due to the brief Australian summer and our limited time together, we will make the most of it and focus on our tasks.

The club has presented multiple player offers, actively engaging in the market. We are optimistic that some of these offers will materialize in the near future.

Southampton's James Ward-Prowse, Chelsea's Conor Gallagher, Manchester United's Scott McTominay, and Harry Maguire are being pursued as potential targets. However, the task of replacing a player as talented as Rice is a significant challenge. Is it feasible to accomplish this directly, or does it necessitate a recalibration?

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David Moyes raises the Europa Conference League trophy alongside Declan Rice. He displays a slight hint of irritation as he responds to the question. "It seems you're implying that replacing Declan Rice with just one player, or even someone similar, is impossible. Therefore, you are likely correct in stating that we must explore alternative solutions."

The exact appearance of this alternative approach is yet to be determined. However, it will not rely solely on the players they are able to acquire. Moyes also emphasizes the existing quality within his team.

Having invested £179m in the previous summer, the club witnessed several of those signings, particularly Lucas Paqueta, Emerson Palmieri, Thilo Kehrer, and Nayef Aguerd, improve over the course of the season. These individuals played crucial roles in the team's success in European competitions.

In order to secure a European trophy after a 40-year gap, it is imperative to have a highly talented squad and skilled players. Naturally, we must enhance our team by making additions and advancements, and that's precisely what we will strive to achieve.

During the course of the season, we witnessed the development and improvement of players like Paqueta, as we did with several others we acquired last year. Although we faced challenges initially, their performances progressively flourished.

"Ultimately, the decision to acquire additional players was driven by our goal of assembling a formidable squad capable of contending in both the Premier League and European competitions. The positive outcome of this pursuit was evident when we triumphantly secured a major trophy with the very players we acquired for this purpose.

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The club have made several offers for players. We are out in the market. We are quite active. Hopefully some of them will come off in the future

David Moyes

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"I believe that consistency is crucial moving forward if we want to see them improve throughout the season. Towards the end of the previous season, there were positive signs of this consistency emerging."

"Their remarkable improvement led them to achieve European glory. However, despite finishing in the top seven for two consecutive seasons before, they disappointingly ended up 14th in the Premier League. Moyes, an experienced figure in the competition, is well aware that the level of competition will only intensify this season."

"It consistently enhances with each passing season," he affirms. "We witness the arrival and departure of various managers. In the previous year, a substantial number of managers entered the scene only to lose their positions. However, throughout the years, I have managed to maintain my presence in the Premier League for the majority of my career.

"It's an exceptional league to operate in, albeit a challenging and fiercely competitive one."

In light of the Europa League campaign and the need for a strong squad, the importance of having depth has increased. As the club focuses on strengthening the team, it is beneficial to also have talented graduates from their respected academy available for selection. West Ham's U18s emerged victorious in the FA Youth Cup last season, and one notable player from that team, Divin Mubama, has demonstrated his significant potential during pre-season matches. He scored in games against Perth Glory, Tottenham, and Dagenham and Redbridge, and also made six appearances for the senior team in the previous season.

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Divin Mubama made six senior appearances for West Ham last season

Could he be useful to Moyes this season?

"I believe he has the potential," he affirms. "Being a young center-forward comes with immense challenges and complexities, but we hold him in high regard.

"Our objective is to nurture his growth and provide him with ample opportunities on the field. Currently, he is performing exceptionally, so there is no reason to hold back."

"But once again, this is the season where things become less daunting. There is lesser pressure and the pre-season games do not hold significant importance, except for preparing and getting in shape."

The current anticipation is that, despite a relatively brief summer break, West Ham and their successful manager will be fully prepared to continue their progress in Prague when the actual challenges await.