Kerry Mayodi
David Moyes is pleased with the way West Ham have handled the pressures of playing in both the Premier League and Europe this season.
On Thursday night, the Hammers continued their remarkable Europa League journey by drawing 1-1 with Lyon in their quarter-final first leg, despite playing most of the game with 10 men.
Hammers have never had to deal with this kind of workload before, but they still have a chance to finish in the top six of the Premier League this weekend when they travel to Brentford.
Moyes said: ‘Thursday-Sunday football has always proved to be really difficult for us or any clubs in the Europa League.
‘I have to give great praise to the players for how they have coped with it for the majority of the season.
‘We are still in European football, we’re in April now, it is great credit to the players, we want to stay there. But to be in Europe you have to do well in the Premier League, so we have to try and perform as best we can.
‘It is always difficult to break into the top four in Premier League. If we can keep in and around the European positions it will be great.
‘We had a great season last year, we have had our first season of having the European games and the Premier League games and we are having a good go of it. But we have to get ready for the game on Sunday.
‘When you are getting into the knockout games you are liable to play all your main players to get a result and that is where it is likely to take its toll. But we are still in their fighting and we are still enjoying it.’
‘We are still hoping that Lanzini can improve and be better,’ Moyes added.
‘He is still carrying a knock from the car crash unfortunately. He has been training but he is still a bit ginger in everything he is doing, but we are hoping that he is getting a bit closer to be able to play.’
