West Ham United manager David Moyes spoke to the media at length on Friday afternoon ahead of this weekend's Premier League meeting with Everton.
The Hammers take on Everton in a crucial relegation six-pointer on Saturday at the London Stadium, with both Moyes and Toffees boss Frank Lampard under threat of losing their jobs.
Here is every word Moyes said on the game, Everton’s off-field issues, the £12million arrival of Danny Ings, Gianluca Scamacca’s injury, Said Benrahma’s form and more.
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You have signed Danny Ings, how important was it to get a proven Premier League striker?
"Yes, it is. We need someone who knows the league. We’ve been linked with a few players and we’ve looked at a few players to try and bring in to strengthen [us], but I wanted to bring in someone who wasn’t a risk, knew how to score. I think Danny Ings is as good as it gets and to be fair, at this time of the year, it’s not easy to pick up centre forwards. We’re really pleased to have him, he’s already settled in quite well this morning so we’re really pleased to get him."
Was he registered in time to get him involved against Everton?
"I don’t know about his registration, I didn’t actually check on the way out, I just knew the paperwork was getting filed, whether or not it’s registered yet or not, I forgot to actually ask if I’m honest."
Does this game feel like a massive one because of where both sides are?
"It’s a huge game for us both, yes. One you look forward to, I’ve got to. I’ve had a lot of big games and tomorrow is a big game in a different way. Yes, I’m looking forward to it, hopefully we can come out on top."
Do you think there can be short memories in football, given your current pressure and Manchester City getting booed off at half-time against Tottenham Hotspur?
"Well, you’re right with what you say, your question is right. West Ham bought me in twice before to rescue the club and get them up. Then, we’ve had two seasons where we’ve finished sixth and seventh in the Premier League finished up in Europe. We’ve nearly been in all of the European cities in the last two years which has been fantastic for West Ham, something which probably you people will be able to tell me the last time West Ham were in the situation."
"I think any manager’s job is to raise expectations and get your team going in the right direction. We’ve got much more media people here than before, which tells you about the bigger interest not just here but in Europe and worldwide as well. I think the last few years have been pretty good for West Ham and at times, it can not go as well as you like but that’s the facts."
Can raising expectations however cause you to be in the situation you are in now?
"It’s a good thing, isn’t it? We’ve got 60,000 at the stadium, very few football clubs in the world can get 60,000 in a stadium. Football supporters come in and they can moan, but let’s be fair, you heard it last night at the game at Man City, who have been excellent. I think that’s the way football is at the moment, but I think generally, over the last few years we’ve had a great time here, worked with great people. I really enjoy the club and I have to say thanks for the support I’ve always had from the board here."
Have you ever at all worried in the last few weeks about your own future here?
"No, I’ve not, what I do think is I’ve had to go off piecing it a little bit, because obvious we bought in players and we wanted it to happen. We tried to break it a little bit in the summer to tried to move it onto another level because I’d seen signs of it that we weren’t quite going the way we wanted to. We’ve had to go and do things slightly differently because of the position we’re in at the moment."
When you see about Everton’s board members being at risk of safe to go to Goodison Park, does that upset you?
"I remember when I came here, I was only here three or four games, we had supporters running on the pitch. It was a terrible time for us and I think one of the biggest things that needs to happen as a football club is it for it to come together. That needs the supporters, that needs the players, the directors all to be together. It’s the one thing that happens here at West Ham, I don’t see a divided club here and I’ve got to say from my time at Everton, I never saw a divided club at Everton."
But they are divided at the moment?
|I can’t really comment, I can only tell you that this football club is much more together I think than it’s ever been."
Do you all feel the pressure of this game?
"I'd like them to feel it because we need to. It's good saying let's keep the pressure off but it's also important to understand what it means, and I do. The game tomorrow means a lot for West Ham Football Club, it means a lot for the players individually and for the team. We have to focus on trying to get the three points. Look, we're just halfway through the season in the Premier League, so there's a long way to go, but we need to try and make the second half much better."
What have you made of Said Benrahma’s form this season?
"I think he's probably been the best of our attacking players at this moment in time. But we've not had many who would get great stats, this time last year we were way ahead of where we are at the moment so it's obviously the area of the field we are short at the moment, creating and making more chances and scoring more chances. That's why we've brought in Danny Ings, if you look at his record he's always scored some goals."
How do you see the team’s morale at the moment?
"Team morale is fine. We need to play better, we need to score more goals, that’s the obvious thing. We’ve got Danny Ings in to try and help us there. We’re working all the time to try and get those better results. I can only tell you the players are in good fettle. We want them to feel the heat because we don’t want to be in this position."
Do you like high pressure games like this?
"It depends. High pressure could be Manchester City vs Liverpool, it could be a bottom of the league game, it could be in a lower league game, trying to win a playoff to get into the Premier League. Every game has got high pressure on it depending on where you are."
Do you see Danny Ings playing up front alone or alongside Gianluca Scamacca?
"He adds to what I need. Gianluca Scamacca’s got a bit of a knee injury which is going to keep him out for a short time so at the moment I’ve only got Mick (Antonio) and Danny as out-and-out forwards. Jarrod Bowen I can use there as well. Hopefully he settles well and its competition. You want the players who want competition because that challenges you more to get better."
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