West Ham manager David Moyes is hoping his side can make up for an underwhelming Premier League campaign to date by enjoying success in the FA Cup.
The Hammers travel to League One side Derby County in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Monday looking to follow up their precious victory in the league against Moyes’ former team Everton, which subsequently saw Frank Lampard sacked by the Merseyside club.
Moyes’ side currently sit one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League but, having last year seen his team reach the semi-finals of the Europa League, hopes a run in the FA Cup can have a similar impact on his players’ confidence.
David Moyes wants to make up for an underwhelming league campaign in the FA Cup
‘It was a huge boost in confidence we had, going far in the Europa League last season,’ Moyes said.
‘My positivity is always there and we are obviously very disappointed about where we are in the league but we are really positive about still being in the FA Cup, getting through a really difficult game against Brentford.
‘If I am not going to get it in my league position, then I have to find a way to try do it with one of my cup competitions if I can.
David Moyes has insisted West Ham have no intention of selling Michail Antonio this month
‘So behind all that, the cup competitions are huge if we can do it.’
Moyes admitted that his West Ham side have not managed to reach expectations this season, which were raised by bringing in eight new signings in the summer transfer window – including the additions of striker Gianluca Scamacca for £35.5m and midfielder Lucas Paqueta for a potential £51.3m.
As well as reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League, Moyes also guided West Ham to a seventh-placed finish in the league last season but admits he may have pushed his players to their limits, with the likes of England duo Declan Rice and Jarrod Bowen playing 50 games each across all competitions.
The Hammers travel to Derby looking to build on their victory over relegation rivals Everton
‘If I am being honest, I don’t think we have hit the heights we should have done and I don’t necessarily mean just the new players,’ he explained.
‘There are some players from last season that maybe have bust their balls to get to where we have done and pushed every last drop out of them.
‘Maybe I have found it difficult to come back and go again, sometimes it’s unfair.
‘But what we don’t want to do is be where we are. We need to get away from where we are.
‘So maybe we need a bit of a kick up the jacksie to find a way of getting back to where we were.’