RE-MOAT CONTROL
Moyes aiming to breach Dutch defences again
DAVID MOYES plans to breach AZ Alkmaar’s fortress tonight – just like he did 16 years ago.
While in charge at Everton, Moyes masterminded a famous win at the AFAS Stadium, a daunting venue surrounded by a moat.
Everton’s 3-2 win here in 2007 ended the Dutch club’s run of 32 unbeaten home games in Europe spanning 30 years. Andy Johnson, Phil Jagielka and James Vaughan grabbed the goals that knocked Alkmaar out of the UEFA Cup.
Now Moyes (inset) plans to administer a repeat dose tonight which will see West Ham reach their first major final for 17 years.
Moyes, who never shouts the odds from the rooftops when a thousand-yard glare is an option, was happy to jog memories this time.
He said: “I have been here and won before. I remember it well, and I have to try to do that again.
“I remember it because I have so much respect for Louis van Gaal, who was Alkmaar coach at that time.
“Whether or not it’s our biggest game since the 2006 FA Cup final, or any other, is probably a question for people who have been at West Ham longer than me. But for this group of players it’s a huge game.
“We have a really difficult opponent, and if we’re going to get there we’ll have to earn it. It’s an incredible record in Europe they have here. Over the last couple of years West Ham have a really good record – but Alkmaar have got a super record.”
If Moyes does go on to lift the trophy he will draw the line at having a tattoo, as Jose Mourinho did after his Roma side won the inaugural competition.
He said: “I don’t think I’’ll have a tattoo, but I’ll look forward to trying to get the final. That’s all I can consider at the moment.
“We see how important it is for our club and everybody connected to it.”
Tomas Soucek is desperate to put last year’s Europa League semi-final defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt behind him and go one step further – because the Europa Conference League final is in his native Czech Republic.
The midfielder said: “Since I knew the final is in Prague I told the guys: ‘We need to go there because it’s my house.’ So it’s a special motivation.”
Striker Michail Antonio and defender Vladimir Coufal, who played no part in the 2-0 defeat at Brentford last Sunday, have both travelled and are expected to be fit.