David Moyes
What does it mean to you for you landmark 1,000th game?
Personally, it is a big day. All managers would like to get 1,000 games but when you start you very rarely think that way. It is a big achievement so I am proud of that the level of consistency and longevity in the game and I will be proud to get there.
Is this start to the season up with your best?
After ten games this is as good as I have felt but it is how we feel after 38 that matter. But I have to say, the first ten have been fabulous but also it is more than the last ten games because last season we did a brilliant job. We have got a level of consistency which is important for me and a stability that can help us be more competitive.
You have rejuvenated the club, is that one of the greatest things you have managed in your career?
I don’t think it’s been down to me individually. Everyone in the club has been desperate to give the supporters a club to be proud of. They’ve done a brilliant job. They deserve it. They’re really turned themselves around, those players.
You had four different goalscorers at Villa, you are not relying on one person it is a team effort.
I only want team players. I don’t want individuals who think it’s all about them. We’ve got a really great spirit at the club. A terrific spirit. Winning is a great habit to have. Having a great momentum is always good. I did not think Mic [Antonio] had his best game but he made assists and helped the others get goals which as the season goes on is important. We have a great spirit and the players are right behind it and my job is to keep pushing them.
You are unbeaten in five is that important for tomorrow?
I think winning is a great habit to have. I believe that having good momentum going into the games is always good. We take each game individually but I hope we take great confidence from the games we have played.
Is there any team news?
We’ve got a couple of knocks and niggles which we have to manage. Not serious, but maybe enough to miss the odd one tomorrow.
There is a chance to win the group tomorrow was that the plan when you saw the group or the expectation?
I don’t know if it was the plan but my expectation was that was what I wanted to do. I felt we would be a strong team. What I didn’t know was how we would cope with it. We’ve tried to make sure the squad is part of it. We’ve had some great results using our squad. Long may that continue.
How much does Liverpool figure in your team selection tomorrow?
I don’t think Liverpool will be thinking about West Ham tonight. So I’m not thinking about Liverpool going into my game tomorrow. I’m preparing my team for this game. We consider things as much as we can.
You will not want to lose your 1,000 game right?
I absolutely agree. I had 999 against Villa and thankfully I won that one. I have a team that are hungry and energetic and we want to keep the demands up because I want to win my 1,000 game but I also want to win the one after that. You hope to win every game and you cannot pick and choose.
You warned about complacency after the Villa game.
I want them to realise the standard should always be high and I have been critical of the players because I want our standards to always remain high. We have to do it in every game, maybe not every player does but if we can get seven or eight at a high standard every game we have a good chance of staying in a good position in Europe and in the league.
If you keep a clean sheet and win tomorrow you will be the first English team to win the first four without conceding.
Anything we can get at West Ham we’ll take it. We’re pushing hard. I’ll tell the players that as well. We want to keep the clean sheet. It will give us every chance of getting a result. It would be a great achievement. This is new. One of my biggest worries about coming into the Europa League was how we would cope with not being used to it. We’ve coped with it, and I’m embracing it.
Have the players surprised you?
It’s how they handle it. How they haven’t got carried away with it, not to think this position is good enough. We have one or two players who are demanding we push on and that helps me as the manager.
How impressed have you been with Ben Johnson?
It’s been very good, I’m really pleased for Ben. He’s a bit of utility player for us, he’s been here for a while. He’s a really important player for us. In the squad and the group he’s really important. Quite often we’ve brought him on and used him in different roles and he’s had a chance to have some games under his belt, he’s not let us down and scored a good goal in midweek. It’s good because it’s competition for Vladimir, and I’ve got Ryan Fredericks as well. I think at the moment Ben has done really, really well and stepped in at a period where we didn’t have either of the other two right backs available. He’s done as well as anybody.
What do you see as his best position?
He is a right-back and that’s what I think he will be. Can he play left back for us? Yeah, because he’s competent with both feet so he could help me out if I need that role done as well. But overall, right-back.
Are you hoping to see Johnson in the England U21 squad and Bowen in the full England setup?
Yeah, because I think that Ben has shown big improvement and at the level he’s at, being involved in European football quite regularly will give him a platform to show exactly what he can do. I hope Ben does and it would be good if he got a call up. The other one is Jarrod who I believe has been knocking at the door for England but I also realise the quality England have got in wide areas; Sancho, Greenwood, Rashford, Sterling. The players England have got in those areas is the biggest competition England have got, that part of the field. It would be good if we could keep Jarrod going because I always get a big thrill if I can get my players international games. It would be good if we could get Jarrod a cap.
