MOYES: BAYER NEVERLUSEN? SO WHAT!
Moyes unimpressed with Germans’ longest unbeaten record in Europe and says: ‘It’s a great opportunity’
DAVID MOYES sized up West Ham’s chances of puncturing the longest unbeaten run in Europe, shrugged and said: “It’s a great opportunity.”
But the Irons will be without top scorer Jarrod Bowen against Bayer Leverkusen in tonight’s Europa League quarter-final after the striker sustained a “fast bowler’s injury” in the heist at Wolves last Saturday.
Kalvin Phillips, who is struggling to win over fans on an accident-prone loan spell from Manchester City, will also be missing after picking up a late hamstring tweak in training.
And midfield enforcer Edson
Alvarez’s suspension will place an even higher premium on Brazil magician Lucas Paqueta (right) to pull more rabbits from his top hat.
Manchester City are aware that Paqueta’s £85million release clause kicks in this summer, and the Treble-chasers regard him as the likeliest replacement if Bernardo Silva leaves the Etihad.
“It’s all speculation,” said Moyes, before underlining Paqueta’s influence as the playmaker who adds fantasy in the same way that Dimitri Payet and Paolo Di Canio once charmed the East End. “He’s a hugely important part of the side, a well-established Brazilian international and he can bring attributes to the game which are really important to us.
“He can make you pull your hair out at times, but, overall, he’s a pleasure to work with. We have to get him at his best and when Lucas is at his best, it gives us a real chance.”
Moyes does not fear Leverkusen’s invincibles and believes the Hammers have a genuine chance of reaching their third semifinal in as many seasons. He said: “I see it as a great opportunity, I really do. We’ve had a pretty good run in Europe ourselves, we’ve played a lot of good teams and the challenge we’ve got of beating a team who are 16 points clear in the Bundesliga is a big one. But, hopefully, we can rise to it and perform well.
“We’ve grown as a club in Europe – we’ve had a good run of getting to a semi-final and a final, and we don’t come here without an expectancy of performing well.”
Bowen’s 19 goals in all competitions will take some replacing, and Moyes added: “We haven’t been given any dates about when he’ll be back. I’m told when he got a knee in his back at Wolves, he twisted and probably damaged something – similar to a fast bowler’s injury in cricket.”