Did you ever think when you announced you’d retire at the end of the season that it might end with a European trophy in your hands?
Did I imagine it, yes? Did I think it would happen, probably no! This season for me, after announcing it would be my last, has been pretty special, but as I keep saying, it's not over yet. We've got an incredible game tomorrow night and then we've got another, bigger game in a week's time, and to be able to enjoy that with the fans and players who have got us to this position, and the whole staff at this place and at the stadium, is an incredible achievement and something we're all looking forward to.
As someone who has been involved in so many different teams, what makes this group of players so special, why have you all managed to get to where you are?
I think sometimes you get an incredible mix of talent, hard work, and honesty. A group of players that have no egos and work for each other. A manager that doesn't let anything slide - he demands hard work. And there's a philosophy in place at the football club now that if you don't work hard, you don't play and I think we've seen that in the last 18 months or two years since he's been back and that's worked. But we've also got some very, very good players that help out along the way and, as I said, it’s a credit to the players who got us into this position.
How do you stop yourself from getting ahead of yourself in regards to lifting a European trophy?
For myself, I wouldn't be disrespectful to a club like Frankfurt - a fantastic football club. Any team that beats Barcelona you need to respect. I would be lying, and I think any player in the world would be, when they say they don't think about it. The thought of lifting the Europa League at the end of this incredible season would be dream-come-true stuff. I knew we had a great squad, an honest squad, and I believed we could do something special, but a semi-final and the cup games we've had, to beat Man City and Man United, we've had some great cup experiences, but this one now tops everything.
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What’s the mindset to make sure you’re not chasing the tie in Frankfurt?
I think if you look at it how we've looked at every game this season, going into every game with no detail overlooked from the opposition. The way the manager approaches every game is the same. We've looked at Frankfurt since we've played Chelsea on Sunday and we'll look at them again in the morning, and obviously get ready for the game. I'm pretty sure with the atmosphere tomorrow night and the team we've got, we'll be in the game for when we go to Frankfurt, but you've got to treat every team with respect because you don't get to this position without being a good side.
Would you change your mind on retirement if you won the Europa League and qualified for the Champions League?
I've been asked so many times now [if I'd change my mind on retiring] but the reason we'd get into the Champions League is by winning the Europa League. Winning the Europa League and lifting the trophy, would I come back? No, and that's my honest answer. To end on that would be pretty special. If that did happen, I'd happily come and watch the Champions League games with the Europa League trophy on the next chair! But that's way down the line - it's about concentrating on tomorrow night.
You've had a very long and distinguished career, just where does this moment rank?
In different aspects and different moments I've had, this is probably one of the most important, because at different stages getting promoted or staying in the Premier League is so important, but for pure enjoyment and atmosphere, Sevilla at home would be hard to beat, but tomorrow night will be pretty special. I don't think I've ever looked forward to a game in my career so much, and to be able to celebrate that, in an occasion with my own fans, is pretty special.
You seem to really enjoy playing under David Moyes, what has he brought to the role?
He doesn't lack in honesty! If you're not doing it, he will tell you - and that's me, Declan [Rice], or any other player in the squad. Whether you get on with a manager or not, if they're honest with you, they respect that. The last couple of years he's been back I haven't played as much as I have done in the past because of a few reasons, but my relationship with the boss has not changed. We talk about the team and we talk about football regularly, and it's partly my job as well to stop things getting to his office because he's got a massive football club and a lot of players to manage. As a captain, it's my job to tidy up the rubbish before it gets to him.
Can you win the competition?
Do I think it's possible? Yes. It's gonna be tough. We know that because the three other teams in this situation will be thinking the same. I would never be disrespectful to Frankfurt. Do I believe we can win? Yes. If we play how we know we can play with the resilience and attacking play and defending as a team I think we can win, and with the fans behind us tomorrow night and who will travel to Frankfurt, I have crossed my fingers since we beat Lyon.
Excited at the chance to make West Ham history and go down in the ages?
If we win it, yes! I don't think anyone will care if we don't! I've given my life from the age of eleven to this club through the good times and bad times. There have been some tough times but the one mainstay for the last 18 or 19 years has been myself, so I'm proud of that. I've accumulated the number of games I have but I think winning the competition would be life-changing for all of these players, not just myself. Also, for a club and fanbase that's really stuck with their team and stayed loyal - we get 60,000 every week now - it would be a really good payback for them. These are the good times and you've got to enjoy them.
Have you been surprised by how quickly a transformation has happened since David Moyes came back or is it something you've always felt the potential is there?
I think get players that come into the squad and it sometimes just clicks. You have a group of players who work fantastically together. You have three or four really special players and people like Craig Dawson who come to West Ham - we had Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna doing well - and you get a few injuries and Daws has been phenomenal this season. You need players like that who pull up their socks. We've got a lot of those players and that's why we've been successful this year.
Are you counting the games left now with retirement on the horizon?
When you wind down your career, the one positive I've had is that it's been ramping up for us, not winding down! We've been away in Europe, we've had the cup games and I've been involved in the Premier League games from the bench, so I haven't really had the chance to think about it. My son's in the academy, I know the staff from top to bottom, I know nearly all the academy players by name, so my affiliation with this club will always be strong. The gaffer's made it clear to me he wants me here, but I do owe it to my family and kids to go away in the summer and have a holiday, because they haven't seen me in the last 20 years!
I'll take some well-earned rest, hopefully as a winner, and then see where we go from there.
You were in tears after Sevilla and Lyon, what was going through your head?
I'm quite an emotional person anyway. I think you've seen it in my career.
Just the thrill of fighting so hard for this club for the last 18 or 19 years, and when you have feelings like that... I know personally how much it means for the West Ham faithful. Wherever you go, I end up talking about West Ham within five minutes. I know how much it means to the people. The emotion comes from deep within, knowing probably a little bit that it's my last season as a West Ham player, and just that it's such a nice feeling to actually win and be successful.
Have you been able to enjoy those moments?
I've actually enjoyed it because we have got a group of players in the dressing room that the fans and I believe in. I can sit there on the bench and be quite excited about what's going to happen in that 90 minutes, to go away to Lyon and Sevilla and put in good performances. I've been lucky enough that the manager's trusted to put me on in these games with 20 or 30 minutes to go, but for me, it's been really enjoyable. It really has. It's busy, but it's been really enjoyable. When you're not playing as much, you tend to appreciate football in a different way. Normally when you win a game, you immediately think you have to win Saturday, but I've really enjoyed it.
Have you been nervous?
I look at football in a completely different way now. There are times the manager asks me what I think during the game and at half-time, I speak to the players, but I'm there if the manager needs me and I've got to be ready to play. That was my main focus this year.
Will Frankfurt be surprised by the noise at the London Stadium?
The Frankfurt fans are a fantastic bunch of fans, I think we've gathered that, especially in Europe over the last few years, but the London Stadium has turned into a fantastic place to play for us. It has taken a bit of time for it to gel, and you need massive nights like we've had this year to cement that home turf, but the games in Europe this season have done that and the boys are so excited for tomorrow night.
Is not playing for England a regret?
The captains during COVID, everything we did, pulling together and earning money for charity, was fantastic, and Troy was one of them. I said on Rio Ferdinand's podcast recently: 'am I gutted I never had an England cap?' Of course, but the way I look at it is that I've had a fantastic career I've had playing for the club I supported as a kid, which every single West Ham fan would want and I was lucky enough to do that, but there are players who had England caps who have not had the career I've had in the Premier League, so what I will say is I don't regret it one bit. I've been lucky enough to live a dream of mine to captain and play for this football club.
Who takes over from you after you’ve gone and picks up the mantle?
At West Ham, I've tried to keep the players and staff at the football club as close as possible. Speaking to other players and staff members who have come here, what we probably lack in facilities, we gain in the culture at the football club with the groundsman, the security boys, the kitchen staff being so close together.
That's one of the biggest things I wanted. It's not just the players who win you football matches, it's the people behind the scenes too. The young players and staff clean the changing rooms now - I don't ask them to do that - so I'm hoping when I leave, that'll carry on as well.
What’s your relationship with Declan Rice like these days?
He loves his football. As a captain, he's made my job and position a lot easier. When you're a senior pro and a young player comes in and takes your place in the team, you could become bitter over that, but for me, with Dec, it's completely different because he trained with us as a 16-year-old kid and from early I knew he was going to be a top player. He's actually even better than what I thought he would be, if I'm honest with you - I would be very surprised if at one point he didn't captain England. He is a true credit to our academy, bringing him through, but also to England, and we should cherish players like that.
Some think he’s overrated, what’s your opinion on that?
My answer to that is obviously they've not watched our games. And also they haven't seen him in training. You realise how good someone is when you train them and you play them yourself. Social media at times can run wild. I think his performances, especially after the EUROS, where he was great and, for me, he was the best player on the pitch in the final 70 minutes. It’s not me being biased, I just truly believe that. And he was one of the only players to come out of the EUROS and perform the way he has done. There's probably only been two or three of them that have come out and done that. Dec found his feet earlier and helped drag this team to the position we’re in now. So he's always gonna have doubters, I'll tell him that all the time. He’ll always have people give him stick because of the position he's in. But he is a true credit to our academy but also to England and we should cherish players like that.
Does a sporting director role appeal to you?
Yes. But because of the way the season has gone, I haven't really had time to think about it. I speak to the manager constantly about the season and games and what I'm going to do after and we both agreed that we will talk about it when we get a chance. He’s got a team to manage and games to think about and so have I. I’ve got a dressing room I need to look after. And when the time's right, I'm pretty sure we'll have a chat. But I think any of the staff at West Ham will tell you that I've got a big influence on a lot that goes on here with the players and with the staff and the club. And I just want things done right and I think the manager appreciates that.
Is there a story behind you cleaning dressing rooms?
One of my friends is the chief executive of Sheffield United and we played there a few away years ago I left my wedding ring in the dressing room. I saw him after and I had to go back to the dressing room to get my ring. When I went back there, the dressing room was a disgrace and it really hurt me. From that day on, I said that would never happen again as long as I'm here.
When we were kids we used to do it, as academy players we weren't allowed to leave until everything was done in the dressing room, so from that moment on I said that wouldn't happen again, because that didn't reflect the football club I want us to be.
