An irritated David Moyes has laid it on the line to his West Ham players and fans in a spiky response ahead of Bayer Leverkusen.
West Ham take on the newly-crowned German champions in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday night.
The Hammers received the best possible Bayer Leverkusen news on Sunday.
Because Xabi Alonso’s side made it 43 games unbeaten as a 5-0 thrashing of Werder Bremen sealed the club’s first ever Bundesliga title.
What ensued was wild celebrations and a stream of videos posted online by West Ham’s last eight opponents showing the manager and players enjoying some well-earned beer and champagne as they partied hard on the pitch and in the changing room.
Hammers hoping for hangover
The Hammers will be hoping that any hangover may give way to a smidgen of complacency as David Moyes’ side look to claw their way back into the tie at 2-0 down from the last seven minutes of the first leg.
West Ham know they must score two unanswered goals to take the tie to extra-time at the London Stadium.
But they will have to do so without suspended duo Lucas Paqueta and Emerson Palmieri and possibly Jarrod Bowen and Konstantinos Mavropanos too.
The mood around West Ham was dampened further by a dismal 2-0 home defeat to Fulham on Sunday.
The stadium was almost empty come the final whistle as the Hammers missed out on the glaring chance to go sixth in the Premier League table.
The Fulham defeat means West Ham need three wins from their last five games to have any chance of a European spot via the league.
Moyes and some fans growing fed up of one another
And that seems unlikely with a rejuvenated Crystal Palace – playing some lovely football under Oliver Glasner – up next and games against Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City among the last five.
A top 10 finish and Europa League quarter-final represents a decent season for West Ham.
But many West Ham fans are growing increasingly bored of the style of play which is not as effective as it was at the start of the season.
So much so the Hammers have won just four of their last 20 matches and haven’t kept a clean sheet in 13 league games.
Moyes, who is now expected to leave West Ham at the end of the season, has been unimpressed with fan discontent.
The Scot has regularly reminded supporters they’ve never had it so good.
Many in the media have also warned West Ham fans to ‘be careful what they wish for’.
The manager once again headed straight down the tunnel after the defeat to Fulham.
Boss lays it on the line to players and fans about Leverkusen
Now an irritated Moyes has laid it on the line to West Ham players and fans in a spiky response during an interview.
Speaking to Sky Sports about West Ham’s second leg against Leverkusen, Moyes told his players what they must do.
And when he was asked by the reporter if it will be tough to get the players and crowd up for the second leg, a clearly agitated Moyes said it’s up to the fans need to get the team going.
“Hopefully the fans, they’ll be the ones who get the players lifted and give them the energy and encouragement they all need to try and get back in the game,” Moyes said.
“We will have to play really well on Thursday, we did not have our shooting boots on today (vs Fulham), we did not connect right with our chances,” Moyes said when asked about his side’s hopes of overturning the deficit against Leverkusen.
“We will need our shooting boots on Thursday and the goal scorers will need to come up with the goods if we are to win.”
