West Ham boss David Moyes wants to experience Jose Mourinho’s Europa Conference League joy
- Planet Sport writer
- 7 September 2022
David Moyes is taking the Europa League Conference seriously as he looks to avoid another Romanian heartbreak.
The Hammers face FCSB, formerly part of one-time European Cup winners Steaua Bucharest, in their group-stage opener at the London Stadium on Thursday night.
In 2015 and 2016, West Ham were twice knocked out of the Europa League at the qualifying stage by Romanian minnows Astra Giurgiu.
Meanwhile, Moyes had a painful experience on a trip to Bucharest when his Everton team were thumped 5-1 by Dinamo in the UEFA Cup in 2005.
"West Ham don't have very good memories of playing Romanian teams? Neither do I," said Moyes.
"I managed Everton in Romania and we lost there. So it can happen. But time moves on as well so you don't think back, you try and look forward."
The Conference League might be Europe's third-tier competition but Moyes is taking it just as seriously as West Ham's run to the semi-finals of the Europa League last season.
Moyes pointed to the celebrations of Jose Mourinho and his Roma team after they won the inaugural competition last season as proof of its significance.
"The group stage is never the bit that makes you go 'great, I'm looking forward to the games'," he added.
"But everybody is hoping to qualify for the knock-out games, which were more exciting last season.
"This time last year we won in Zagreb and did a really good job in winning the group. We will try to do so again.
"We had a real good go at it last year and we celebrated (qualifying) this year as well, even though we are only in the Conference League.
"I watched the final last year, between Roma and Feyenoord, and it was an excellent game.
"If you look at Jose Mourinho - who has won all the competitions - how he considered how big he felt it.
"I would love to be in a position to win it as well."
