24th December, 2014
Bring on Chelsea and Arsenal! That’s the message from Hammers boss Sam Allardyce as his team goes into Christmas sitting in the Champions League position.
Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Leicester City at Upton Park guaranteed the Hammers fourth place in the Premier League on Christmas Day, and the manager is buzzing.
“I think we can challenge Chelsea and Arsenal on the back of what we have done so far this season,” said the boss.
“It eases the pressure on us and makes it easier to go there and see if we can challenge against two of the big boys in this league and see if we can get any points off them.”
West Ham already have a good record this season against the supposed big boys, beating Manchester City and Liverpool at Upton Park and Allardyce believes that his team have the ability to emulate those results.
“We have earned the right to take them on, as difficult as it might be, and I think the lads have the confidence to think we are capable of doing it,” he said.
“If we don’t, it is not going to be too much of a knock back for us because we know we can catch it up by beating teams that are lower than us, which we have done particularly well this season.
“The cream on top of our cake so far is the fact that we have beaten Man City and Liverpool.”
Star player, Winston Reid has insisted that West Ham United will not fear Chelsea on Boxing day, adding that West Ham are capable of coming away from West London with something to show for their efforts.
“Obviously it’s going to be a tough game,” he told the club’s official website. “We’ll set up a foundation and adopt a tactic for the game. It’s not going to be easy but we’re not going to go there and be afraid. We’ll do our best and see how far it can take us.”
Cheikhou Kouyate is also convinced West Ham United can challenge Chelsea on Boxing Day.
Kouyate believes his side have the ability to overcome Jose Mourinho’s men.
“We’ve nothing to lose at Chelsea because we’re playing the best team in the league, in the country,” he told the club’s official website.
“They’re first and it’s no fluke. We’ll go there with nothing to lose and without fear. If we’re fearful, we’re better off staying at home! This is football and we shouldn’t forget it, we’ve got to enjoy it and we’re going there to do just that.”