By Simon Leyland
West Ham United assistant coach Kevin Nolan has always been a confident man, both on and off the pitch.
And he has now said not only does he believe that the club would stay in the Premier League but will be ‘disappointed’ if they don’t win the UEFA Europa Conference League.
The Hammers have endured a painful and difficult season after back-to-back top-seven finishes – and with a handful of games to go they are only four points above the relegation zone.
However, in Europe they are yet to taste defeat and can reach the semi-finals this evening, courtesy of a win against the Belgian side Gent.
With a game in hand on the teams around them (away to title seeking Manchester City, no less!), Nolan is confident his side will not only avoid relegation but top off the season with victory in Europe.
Coach Kevin Nolan
“I believe we’re going to stay up, I believe we have an excellent chance of winning this Conference League,” Nolan told the BBC
“If we don’t, I’ll be really disappointed and then next season I think you’ll see the development of these players.
“One year in England in such a different environment to what they’ve played in before and being able to handle international as well as Premier League football will come massive for them.
“And I think that will take us to that level where we want to be again and hopefully by June 7, we will be talking about us being back in the Premier League next year and being in the Europa League for the third season and then you would be saying what another season that is for West Ham United.”