West Ham United manager David Moyes has laid down the gauntlet to Manchester United in the battle to secure a place in the Europa League for next season.
The Hammers, following their Europa League semi-final defeat to German outfit Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday evening, got back to winning ways in style on Sunday afternoon, hammering bottom-of-the-table Norwich City 4-0 at Carrow Road. Said Benrahma, who scored twice, Michail Antonio and Manuel Lanzini all got their names on the scoresheet, confirming that the Hammers are refusing to feel sorry for themselves after their midweek heartbreak.
Victory over Norwich moved Moyes' side back to within three points of United in the table, following the Reds' 4-0 hammering at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday evening. West Ham have two games left, meaning they must win at least one of them to stand any chance of finishing above United to claim sixth and the second Europa League spot.
READ MORE: Fred Rutten rejects Manchester United job under Erik ten Hag
The Hammers are currently better off than United on goal difference, boasting a record of +10, meaning one win in their two remaining games, coupled with a United defeat on the final day at Crystal Palace, would see them snatch sixth and condemn United to the Europa Conference League. However, a victory for United at Palace would mean that West Ham would have to win both of their remaining matches to snatch sixth on goal difference.
For Moyes, however, he was just delighted to see a positive response from his players after their semi-final defeat in Germany.
"I think considering all the things that happened in midweek and how our emotions were, it was a really good result," said Moyes. "I thought the team started very well and gave us a decent platform to go and work from.
"To say Thursday was a big blow wouldn't do it justice, how we feel. So to get us back today with that result was great credit to the players. We could've played better, could've scored more goals. But we got the job done and got three good points.
"Let's be fair, we've got Manchester City and Brighton to play, and Brighton have just beaten Manchester United, so that's why I thought today was really important. But we're back in it, back in there fighting and trying to be sixth or seventh with a bit of luck, and hopefully we can be back in Europe."
West Ham face Manchester City at the London Stadium next Sunday and travel to Brighton & Hove Albion on the final day of the season in a fortnight's time. United have just one game left because of Chelsea's involvement in the FA Cup final.
Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season.
