David Moyes insists West Ham can still ensure it is a successful season for the club, despite currently being locked in a relegation battle.
The Hammers spent more than £150million in the summer transfer window, bringing in the likes of Lucas Paqueta and Gianluca Scamacca as they looked to kick on having reached the Europa League semi-finals last season and finished seventh in the Premier League.
However, with more than half of the League campaign played, Moyes’ side sit 17th in the table and just a point off the relegation zone, with only 18 goals scored in 21 matches.
Saturday’s clash against Chelsea is followed by a trip to face Tottenham next weekend, with defeats in those two games potentially seeing the Hammers slip into the bottom three.
Despite the position his side find themselves in, the West Ham boss pointed to next month’s FA Cup fifth-round tie against Manchester United and the return of the Europa Conference League as he maintained the club still have plenty to look forward to.
“It can be a really good season,” Moyes told reporters in his press conference on Friday.
“We have got Europe again in March, the FA Cup. All my focus for now is on Chelsea.”
Chelsea will arrive at the London Stadium short of confidence themselves, with just two wins since the World Cup as goals continue to be a problem for Graham Potter’s side too.
The Blues sit ninth in the table, 10 points off Newcastle in fourth, and with a whole host of new faces to integrate into the side after another window of huge spending.
Moyes has had some experience of the challenges that brings himself this season, and he admitted he does not envy the Chelsea boss having to contend with 17 new signings.
“I’m not sure I would,” Moyes responded when asked if he would want that many players brought in. “I think sometimes you want to build a team and take it forward.
“It’s not for me to comment on how Chelsea build their team.”
He added: “Graham Potter is an exceptional manager. It doesn’t matter whether he’s got 17 new players or 17 who have been there for years.
“It’s great to see a British manager manage one of the top clubs.”
