West Ham tipped to emulate Man United as ‘massive bonus’ on the cards – Mills
West Ham must make the Europa League a priority if they want to secure Champions League football this season, according to Danny Mills.
The former England international, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed a European triumph would be a “massive bonus” for the Hammers.
West Ham were handed a tough Round of 16 draw against six-time winners Sevilla in today’s (25 February) Europa League draw in Nyom.
West Ham face the Champions League dropouts after topping their group – which included Genk, Rapid Wien, and Dinamo Zagreb.
A triumph in the Europa League final, which will be held in Seville in May, earns the victorious side a place in next season’s Champions League group stage.
Mills insisted the Hammers should focus on their European campaign over their failing top-four Premier League bid.
“It’s Champions League football if you win it,” he told Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley.
“It has to be the priority. Man United have gone down that route before.
“Winning the Europa League and getting into the Champions League, that’d be a massive bonus.
“Not only would you have won a European trophy, you’ve also put yourself in that premier competition.
“My argument would be, what’s better – finishing fourth with no trophy, or finishing fifth or sixth with a massive trophy. I’d take the latter every time.”
Man United qualified for the Champions League in 2017 despite their sixth-place league finish after winning the Europa League final against Ajax.
West Ham sit sixth in the Premier League after winning just one of their last five games.
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