Issa Diop has admitted that West Ham United should be targeting European qualification this season ahead of Monday night’s clash against Aston Villa.
The French defender claimed that the Hammers want to finish as high up the Premier League as possible and potentially even win their first major trophy since the FA Cup in 1980.
West Ham are currently on a three-match winning streak in all competitions and will be looking to extend that at Villa Park against Dean Smith’s side.
Speaking in an interview on the club’s official website, Diop set his targets for the Hammers this season, outlining their ambition for the campaign ahead.
“Europe qualification has to be our target, it has to be and it is better to have high ambition than low ambition!” he said.
“We want to finish the season in the best possible position and go far in a cup, if not win a cup.”
OPINION
Diop is definitely right, West Ham have got to the stage where they need to be pushing hard for European qualification, as well as trying to pick up silverware along the way. Wolves highlighted that any team can come out on top in the mid-table battle last season when they qualified for Europe in their first season after promotion from the Championship. With the Hammers not having won a major trophy in almost 40 years, their fans will be desperate to see a cup-run in this campaign, but Manuel Pellegrini must balance his squad so that they can perform to their capabilities every single week. The determination is clear to see if Diop’s comments are anything to go by, and if the rest of his teammates are on the same wavelength then the Hammers could make a real statement this season. Smashing their club-record to sign forward Sebastien Haller in the summer signalled their intent this campaign, and now all that is left for them to do is to back it up on the pitch.
