Scottish Daily Mail

NEW WEST HAM WAY!

Moyes urges young guns to create their own legacy by booking spot in Seville

- By KIERAN GILL

AS if David Moyes needed any further reminders of what happened 46 years ago, it was raining at Eintracht Frankfurt’s Deutsche Bank Park yesterday.

Another nod to that famously soggy night in 1976 when they beat the Germans 3-1 to reach the final of the European Cup-Winners’ Cup, overturnin­g a 2-1 first-leg loss.

Yet Moyes was not in the mood for reminiscin­g about the good old days. Instead, the 59-year-old wanted to outline why this is the ‘new West Ham’.

A team which wants to inspire its young supporters into getting ‘Bowen’ and ‘Rice’ on the back of their shirts. A side which wants the London Stadium to feel like a home rather than a soulless bowl.

A club on the brink of bigger, better, beautiful things and which is going places — hopefully to the Europa League final in Seville in two weeks’ time and, potentiall­y, an all-British box-office clash with Rangers.

That depends on tonight and whether Moyes’s boys can overturn that disappoint­ing loss from last week.

‘I don’t want to go back,’ the manager said. ‘I’m trying to give a “new West Ham” because I want people to see a new young team.

‘Jarrod Bowen and Declan Rice are new, young, up-and-coming, huge players who the new, young supporters at West Ham can get a jersey for and support.

‘They’re the future for West Ham.

‘As we all know, there were greats like Sir Trevor (Brooking), the people of the past who all the older generation talk about.

‘So I’m really hoping this new generation of supporters will be talking about the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Declan Rice after games like this.

‘To be in a semi-final is huge for us as a football club. I’ve got a great group of players, a group who have resilience, character and all those things that go with it.

‘It wasn’t too long ago we were fighting relegation. It’s been a great climb and I see no reason why that shouldn’t continue.’

Rice’s future could depend on tonight. If West Ham qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League, he will stay. If not, he will consider his future, having already turned down three new contract offers.

Rice is among those who needs to put in the performanc­e of a lifetime tonight. As will Bowen and Craig Dawson — or ‘Arjen Bowen’ and ‘Ballon d’Orson’ as the supporters have taken to calling the popular duo.

‘It’s a big nickname to be associated with,’ said Bowen. ‘It’s been strange — from eight years ago when I first played at Hereford to now be in the Europa League semi-final, I’m grateful.

‘It’s about showing what I’m about. This season it was about believing in my abilities and showing it week in, week out with goals and assists.’

He has done that and if anyone is to repeat the heroics of two-goal Brooking from 1976, it will surely be Bowen.

Moyes’s 86-year-old father, David Snr, will be in Frankfurt tonight, cheering on his son’s team. The West Ham manager said that will be ‘special’ but added: ‘It will be even better if it’s the final.

‘In your career you have lots of ups and downs — probably more downs because it’s hard to be winning top games all the time. When you get so close, you’ve got to hope it is your turn.’

 ?? ?? Star duo: Rice (left) with Bowen yesterday and (inset) boss Moyes
Star duo: Rice (left) with Bowen yesterday and (inset) boss Moyes
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