Edson Alvarez says West Ham have every right to target back-to-back European trophies after their record-breaking victory over Freiburg last night.
The Hammers seized control of their Europa League group with a 2-1 win in Germany and extended their unbeaten run in Uefa competition to 17 matches, the longest ever by an English club.
That streak began at the start of last season's Europa Conference League campaign, which finished in glory in Prague in June as the Irons ended a 43-year trophy drought. Alvarez was not part of that triumph, only arriving this summer from Ajax, but sees no reason for the club's next wait for silverware to be anything like as long.
"The guys in the past showed already that they could win the Conference League so why not?" he said, when asked whether the Hammers could follow up with Europa League success this term. "If we can keep doing what we [are] doing, then of course.
"We hope so and we work for that, to keep doing good things in European competition. We know what it means for our people and ourselves. We've already made two good steps and now we're on top of the table."
Nayef Aguerd's second-half header proved the difference as the Hammers made it six points from a possible six in Group A, the Moroccan edging David Moyes's side back in front after Freiburg midfielder Roland Sallai had levelled soon after the break.
Man-of-the-match honours, though, were reserved for Lucas Paqueta, who was again outstanding and scored a superb opening goal from Jarrod Bowen's cross after only eight minutes.
Moyes called the Brazilian an "incredible talent", before Bowen, himself handed an England recall earlier in the day, and Alvarez added their voices to the chorus of praise.
"Lucas gets better with every game we play and you never know what he's going to do with the ball," Bowen said. "He's got so much about him, with so much flair and control. He takes the pressure off us and, when we need a focal point, we know we can rely on him. I love playing with him."
"He's a special player," Mexican international Alvarez added. "We have a very good connection – he's Brazilian but we can understand each other. He's a magnificent player and it's a pleasure to play with him."
Alvarez has made his own impressive start to life in east London since arriving as a replacement for Declan Rice. The 25-year-old insists he has not been fazed, however, by the sizeable boots he is being asked to fill, having faced a similar task when moving to Ajax in the same summer that star midfielder Frankie de Jong was sold to Barcelona.
"I never put this pressure on myself," he explained. "I'm a different player [to Rice]. I bring what I can bring: my spirit, my fight, everything. Believe me, I don't try to put any of that on my mind, I just want to show the people my quality and my ability. I know the responsibility but I'm doing what I want to do and what I want to bring to the league."
