West Ham United manager David Moyes admits he tried and failed in his attempt to master Spanish while working in La Liga.
Moyes was appointed by Real Sociedad in November 2014, but couldn’t conquer the new language before being sacked a year later.
The Scot then returned to English football with Sunderland, before West Ham came calling in 2017. Speaking to the press ahead of Thursday’s UEFA Europa Conference League fixture with Silkeborg, the Scot praised some of his recent signings as they continue to settle in at the London Stadium.
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He said: “I went to Spain and I tried to take Spanish lessons and I couldn’t speak Spanish in a year. I tried my nuts off to speak Spanish, I really did, and I would have definitely been speaking it if I got another year at it.
“We’ve got an incredible team spirit. Behind the scenes here is a great team spirit. By the way, I fight them and challenge them and all of the new boys have got to join us how we want. The new boys, their characters have been really impressive to me.
“I’m maybe not one to comment on them, because I didn’t do it. Said’s [Benrahma] English for the amount of time he’s been here has not been great, but I’ve got to say, Nayef [Aguerd], brilliant English, Gianluca [Scamacca], brilliant English, Emerson [Palmieri], fantastic English.
“Strangely enough, [Lucas] Paqueta can’t speak it, but I think he understands it and he’s doing really well. I think he already speaks about three or four languages, so it might be something I hope he can pick up quickly.”
Now in his second spell as West Ham boss, Moyes has led the club to sixth and seventh place finishes in the top flight. The Hammers set their record top-flight points total of 65 in the 2020-21 season, and last season reached the Europa League semi finals, losing to eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt.
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