‘We’re going to Europe’: Moyes leads West Ham to 6th in EPL

By: The Associated Press Posted: 3:06 PM CDT Sunday, May. 23, 2021

LONDON (AP) — West Ham ended its record-breaking Premier League campaign with a 3-0 win over Southampton on Sunday to secure a place in next season's Europa League.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

LONDON (AP) — West Ham ended its record-breaking Premier League campaign with a 3-0 win over Southampton on Sunday to secure a place in next season's Europa League.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/05/2021 (1930 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LONDON (AP) — West Ham ended its record-breaking Premier League campaign with a 3-0 win over Southampton on Sunday to secure a place in next season’s Europa League.

David Moyes’ team was battling relegation last season yet has secured sixth place and its best Premier League points tally of 65.

Two goals from Pablo Fornals and a third from Declan Rice made it a club-record 19th league win of the season, and a first top-six finish this century.

West Ham's manager David Moyes applauds at the end of an English Premier League soccer match between West Ham and Southampton at the London stadium in London, England, Sunday May 23, 2021. (Justin Tallis/Pool via AP)

A debut appearance in the group stage of the Europa League now beckons for a team that was tipped to struggle again at the start of this season.

“Get your vaccines, get your passports, we’re going to Europe,” was the message from jubilant West Ham manager David Moyes to the 10,000 fans back in attendance at the London Stadium for the game.

Later, Moyes said: “It’s a huge achievement from where we came from. To jump this far is absolutely huge.

“I think there’s signs West Ham are beginning to pull together. We walked around the pitch last season having just stayed up and people said that was a success. I hope we enjoyed what we felt today, being in a big game that meant something. It’s been a tough year in football but overall it’s been a good year for us.”

Whether Moyes can build a squad capable of the grueling Thursday-to-Sunday slog is something to worry about another day. This was time to celebrate a notable achievement for the 58-year-old former Everton and Manchester United manager who is enjoying a career renaissance.

One player he hopes to add permanently is Jesse Lingard, following the end of the forward’s successful loan spell from Manchester United.

“I hope Jesse’s here. We’d like to keep him, he’s done an exceptional job for us, but there’s no guarantees, he’s not our player,” Moyes said.

“But I hope Jesse realizes we’ve been good for him as well, and that he joined a club on the up.”

It was an underwhelming end to a streaky season for Southampton, a 15th loss from its last 21 matches meaning a 15th-place finish.

“In the second half of this season we haven’t been good enough and that’s why we ended up where we ended up. The table doesn’t lie,” said Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.

“When you concede the second most goals in the Premier League, you know what is missing. That’s what needs to change, either with these players or other players.”

___

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports