West Ham are one game away from the Europa Conference League final and could end a 43-year wait for some major silverware. Club legend Tony Cottee explains how much it means to the Hammers and their fans.
Cottee, who was at the game last week when West Ham won the home leg 2-1, says that getting to the final and winning the trophy would see captain Declan Rice join an exclusive club featuring Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds.
When asked how big it would be for West Ham to go on and lift the trophy, Cottee said: “It depends where you are as a football club. The Conference League… is it good for Manchester United or Chelsea? Of course it’s not. It might well happen to Tottenham this year. For West Ham it’s completely different. It’s 43 years since they beat Arsenal to lift the FA Cup – I was there as a 14-year-old – so for a club like West Ham you can’t over-emphasise what a big deal this is.”
Cottee also spoke about the contrast between West Ham’s league and European form, attributing it to the departure of Mark Noble and Stuart Pearce at the start of the season, as well as the influx of new players. He said: “I’m not surprised in many respects. But barring absolute miracles they’re going to be safe this season. Compared to the previous two seasons it’s obviously not been good enough but I’m not surprised it has been a transitional season.”
The former striker also discussed Declan Rice’s future, saying: “We all know he’s got a big decision coming in the summer. He’ll have the pick of any club in the world if he decides to leave. There’s two things Declan wants to do; he wants to play in the Champions League and he wants to win trophies.”
Cottee also spoke from personal experience, having made his own big move to Everton in the 1980s. He said: “I think it’s about leaving in a dignified way. If Declan lifts the cup and gives the West Ham fans one of the best nights of their lives you’re not going to hold it against him for ever more. I left in the 1980s and it was really difficult for me – I’m a West Ham fan – but when you feel as a player that you need to go somewhere else to achieve your dreams you take that moment. It’s a short career. It’s not about money, it’s about what Declan wants to achieve as a footballer.”
Tony Cottee was talking with Online Casino Ground. https://www.onlinecasinoground.nl