West Ham forward Pablo Fornals has told the Evening Standard how the squad ‘have to keep dreaming’ about obtaining a European spot for next season.
Fornals believes the Irons can target a Europa League place following their relatively positive start to the Premier League campaign.
The 24-year-old Spaniard has himself made a strong start, scoring twice and providing two assists in the opening eight games of the season, and he thinks the whole squad has improved, saying: “I think we made a step up, fighting with unbelievable teams in the last few games and for that reason, we are in a comfortable position, but we have enough quality and belief to keep going up the table.”
The winger spoke about his experience of playing in the Europa League with La Liga side Villareal and he believes the Irons can emulate that feat, as he said: ”First we need to get to 40 points as soon as possible but after this, we have to dream. We have to keep dreaming, to keep fighting and working as we are doing, we can arrive in a good position come the end of the season.”
West Ham have undergone a tactical change this term under David Moyes and it seems to be having the desired effect. Fornals said it’s a formation that works for him, claiming: “I’m feeling more comfortable because, with Arthur and Cressy playing down the left-hand side, I can go into the middle a little bit.”
Fornals has held down his spot in the team despite the arrival of prolific left-winger Said Benrahma in October and will fancy his chances of starting again when the Hammers resume domestic duties this weekend against Sheffield United.
READ WEST HAM VERDICT
Optimism out of the West Ham camp after an impressive start is a welcome sight.
Following four seasons of mid-table finishes after the high of seventh in 2015/16, Fornals is right to be cautiously optimistic after the Irons’ performances against a host of the league’s biggest hitters in the early weeks of 2020/21.
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