During his final speech to the West Ham players against Man City, David Moyes gave them a parting message regarding Julen Lopetegui.
West Ham manager David Moyes and his team withdrew backstage at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City supporters stormed the field to celebrate winning the league for the fourth time in a row.
Plans to visit the remote support and express gratitude were derailed.
West Ham’s dressing room had a different vibe from Man City’s glittering array of stars, who were all celebrating in style beside Pep Guardiola.
It was Moyes’s final speech as West Ham United’s manager, having overseen 261 matches over two stints.
Moyes’s goodbye sign was ruined
West Ham was flying high in the top six at the start of the new year, trailing only the top four.
Following a 2-0 victory at Arsenal, some called for Moyes to be awarded a new contract.
Arsenal would eventually lose the title as a result of the setback.
Because of the appalling results in 2024, Moyes will not be granted a new contract, and the match against Man City will be his final one.
Irony abounded as Arsenal’s fate was sealed in his penultimate game, a 3-1 loss to Man City at West Ham.
With immediate official notice, Julen Lopetegui will take Moyes’ position.
For the past few weeks, it has been the worst kept secret in football.
Moyes sends parting message to about Lopetegui
But West Ham’s owners insisted on holding off until Moyes had finished the season before ushering in Lopetegui.
Things have got a touch tetchy of late with Moyes banning technical director Tim Steidten from being around the first team due to West Ham’s very public search for a new boss.
One might think Moyes would be bitter about Lopetegui coming in to replace him.
But after his farewell at home last week, the departing manager said he hoped the Spaniard will make even more progress.
Now Moyes has sent a parting message to West Ham stars about Lopetegui.
And it is pure class once again.
‘I’ve said to the players’
Moyes has revealed that his final address to West Ham’s players was to tell them they must give their all under Lopetegui to continue the fine work they have done in east London.
“I think there are a lot of things for the club to take forward and a lot of things we’ve made better here and I hope it continues, I really do,” Moyes told the club’s official website.
“I’ve said to the players in the dressing room today they have to keep it going (under the new manager).
“They’ve set some standards in the Premier League now and let’s see if we can maintain it (under Lopetegui).
“I’m really pleased it was a successful time at West Ham and I think that most people would probably agree with that. The people I’ve worked with have been successful and all the people I’ve enjoyed, and I hope that everybody else can continue it.”
Classy until the end David Moyes.
What a selfless message to sign off his time at the club.
Thank you to him and good luck to Lopetegui.
