David Moyes is hoping to use the memories of his Everton side winning at the home of AZ Alkmaar to help West Ham United reach the Europa Conference League final.
The Hammers are in the Netherlands for the second leg of their semi-final clash with AZ tonight (Thursday), with West Ham holding a slender one-goal advantage from the first leg after coming from behind to win 2-1 at the London Stadium last week.
West Ham will look to become just the second English side to win against AZ in European competitions in Holland, with Moyes' Everton the only Premier League team to emerge victorious against Alkmaar in the past, winning 3-2 back in December 2007.
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And Moyes is hoping to repeat the trick with West Ham as he recalled his previous success against AZ in the Netherlands, having been reminded by his father about the win with Everton.
"I have been here and won before. I remember it well. I have to try to do that again. That’s the job," Moyes said.
"I remember it because I have so much respect for Louis van Gaal and he was the coach at that time. I was still a very young coach learning my way. I have always enjoyed coming to the Netherlands, I have always enjoyed coming here to play in youth tournaments, to be around watching the football. I remember that night quite well.
"It took me a wee while when I came in, because it was a long time ago now. I had to think about it for a little while. But the moment I came through the door it all came back. Louis van Gaal was the manager, and I was a young manager at the time, just starting my journey, or not just starting, but still feeling like a young coach.
"It didn’t bring back key moments from the game, it was just the victory. It was my dad who reminded me about the victory. My dad was out here as well and will be again [for West Ham's game]."
But Moyes is not taking anything for granted against an AZ side that caused the Hammers problems in the first leg last week in London and have not lost in in 25 European home matches, having won 17 and drawn eight.
The Dutch side have won all eight games on home soil this season, with 25 goals scored and just five conceded. the last side to deny AZ victory in 90 minutes in a European tie was Napoli back in 2020/21 in the Europa League group stage, in a game that finished 1-1.
And Moyes is well aware of the test that awaits his West Ham side as he looks to try and guide the Hammers to their first European final in 47 years.
"They [AZ] are doing remarkably well in the Dutch league, and have done for a number of years," he said. "I think it’ll be a pretty open game. They’ve shown when they’ve been behind before what they’re capable of. We’ve got an unbeaten record in Europe away from home. So all those things added together, for me, makes it look like an interesting game.
"It’s an incredible record in Europe they have here. It really is. We’ve only started our European campaign really the last couple of years. If you looked at our record, you’d have to say, West Ham have got a really good record the last couple of years. But Alkmaar have got a super record, no doubt about that."
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