David Moyes pal: West Ham manager thrilled after ‘big’ development
David Moyes will be pleased West Ham have drawn Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals, according to Danny Mills.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-England defender and friend of Moyes insisted they will be glad they have avoided Barcelona.
After overcoming Sevilla in the round of 16, West Ham were drawn against Lyon in Friday’s (18 March) draw.
If they beat the French side they will face Barcelona or Eintracht Frankfurt for a place in the final in Seville in May.
Asked what Moyes’ reaction will be to the drawer, Mills told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “He will be thinking ‘Thank goodness it’s not Barcelona’.
“Nobody wanted to draw them, let’s be honest, as much as they are not in the greatest of form they are still a very, very dangerous side with some exceptionally talented players.
“West Ham will be looking at it as it’s not the hardest draw but they have still got to beat them. They have done well in the past and they are at this stage for a reason. They’ve got to this stage for a reason.
“Flip it around and are people looking at West Ham and going ‘I don’t mind playing them, they are not doing great’.
“It’s still a very tough game and all games at this stage are not going to be easy.
“When you look at it, they’ve avoided Barcelona and a couple of other really tricky ties they will think ‘You know what lads, we’ve got a really good chance here, let’s go and grab it with both hands’.
“A two-legged tie with no away goals evens it out a little bit and gives them a big chance, we’ve seen that already.”
In other news, a European giant is lining up a big-money move for a player let go by West Ham last year.