Europa Conference League final: Joe and Carlton Cole back David Moyes to keep West Ham job - 'He's been outstanding'
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Updated 07/06/2023 at 19:00 GMT
David Moyes has had to endure criticism as West Ham manager this season after a season to forget in the Premier League. But after leading The Hammers to the latter stages of European competition for the second consecutive year, Joe and Carlton Cole have been nothing but glowing in their assessment of the 60-year-old's work. West Ham play Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final.
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BT Sport experts and former West Ham players Joe and Carlton Cole have paid tribute to the job that David Moyes has done as manager of The Hammers.
Moyes, 60, has led West Ham to the final of the Europa Conference League after falling just short in last year’s Europa League when they lost to eventual winners Frankfurt in the semi-final.
But a season to forget domestically, which involved a battle against relegation in the Premier League, resulted in some calling for the former Manchester United and Everton boss to be replaced.
On Wednesday, Moyes has the chance to deliver the club’s first European trophy in 58 years when they play Serie A club Fiorentina in Prague.
“This has never happened to us before,” said Carlton Cole, who played as a striker for West Ham between 2006 and 2015.
“What he has bought to the club, the vibe that these fans are getting here today, they've had days out in Europe for the last two years.
“And it's something that has never been done in some of these fans’ lifetime. It’s a massive, massive achievement for himself, his family and the fans that he's leading on.”
Joe Cole, who represented the club in the UEFA Cup in the 1999/2000 season, believes Moyes won’t be judged on Wednesday night’s result.
“You have to look at his whole body of work since he's come into the club and where the club was at,” said Joe, referencing West Ham’s back-to-back top-seven finishes.
“He’s been outstanding and I've been singing his praises all week.
“I think, at 60 years of age, with all of the experience he's got, I think he's at the prime of his career, you know, and I think West Ham will sit down in the summer with David.
“And David's been in the game long enough now and they will decide together what they want to do.
“This season in the league, you know, was a blip but you have to remember [Thilo] Keher’s come in, [Nayef] Aguerd’s come in, [Lucas] Paqueta’s come in. He's trying to reshape this team and reason mould this team.”
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