Moyes knows the pressure at both ends of the table
David Moyes admits he cannot begin planning for next season until West Ham have secured their Premier League survival. The Hammers put some much-needed daylight between themselves and the drop zone with a dramatic 3-2 win over Chelsea in midweek.
But any transfer plans remain on hold as they continue their battle to avoid relegation, with a trip to in-form Newcastle United next up.
“I’d love to say I was looking forward completely, but I’m not taking my eye off the ball. I’m only looking at the next game,” said Moyes.
“I can’t think any further than how we can pick up the points, and win the next two or three games – then maybe it will give me a chance to look.
“I’m not sure we even know when next season is starting. We don’t have confirmation of the date yet.
“So the big thing is to focus on what we can do at the moment, and make sure we are a Premier League club.
“We need to build on the performance we had against Chelsea, which was a really top performance by the players.
“If we are capable of beating Chelsea, we are capable of having a go against most teams.
“That’s the way I look at it so we will hopefully try to do that.” Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has said the relegation battle is “consuming” him, and former Manchester United boss Moyes knows how he feels.
“I don’t disagree,” added the Glaswegian.
“But football consumes you. When you are a football manager, you’re consumed all the time.
“We all realise we are very fortunate to be in the position we are in.
“But a lot of the managers work very hard and have to listen a lot, shift a lot out and use what we think is right.
“It’s a difficult job, and obviously being at the bottom of the league – where I’ve been before – comes with a different pressure.
“But let me tell you, when your team’s at the top, and you are expected to win every week, it comes with big pressure as well.”
Meanwhile, Steve Bruce will not allow Newcastle United to coast to the Premier League finishing line after guiding them to safety with weeks to spare. The Magpies’ 4-1 win at Bournemouth in midweek took them through the 40-point barrier, and left them looking upwards rather than over their shoulders for what remains of the campaign.
However, head coach Bruce is in no mood to rest on his laurels with 18 more points still to play for.
He said: “We’ve achieved the first goal.
“A lot of people wrote the team and myself off in the first few weeks, so I’m delighted for everybody we’re a Premier League team again, and that was the first job to be done. “Now we’ve given ourselves the platform to see if we can mount a challenge and get in the top10.
“If we can, that would be hugely satisfying. My job is to keep them focused on it.
“We’ve only got two or three weeks to the finish, and we’ve got some big games coming up against some big teams. It’s still all to play for.
“The challenge for all of us is to make sure we keep the focus like we had the other day.
“Let’s enjoy the next few weeks and see where they take us.”