West Ham v Sevilla: Europa League progress key step in Hammers future

It is about two years since English football ground to a halt, as the unprecedented impact of the coronavirus pandemic began to make its presence felt.

For three months, West Ham United fans had to look at a Premier League table that showed their club in 16th position, above the relegation zone only because their goal difference was three better than Bournemouth, who eventually went down.

It barely seems credible that Hammers fans are now able to look ahead with confidence to a Europa League last-16 second-leg tie with Sevilla.

The match is widely accepted as being the biggest the club has played at London Stadium since they completed their controversial move from Upton Park in 2016.

It will not be easy. Sevilla have won the competition four times in the past eight seasons. In two of the other campaigns, rival Spanish teams have lifted the trophy, including last term, when Villarreal beat Manchester United.

However, just by being involved in the game, at a time when David Moyes' side are sixth in the Premier League and in with a shot of successive top-seven finishes for the first time in the club's history, it does feel like West Ham are starting to become the club many of their fans always felt they were capable of being.

When Moyes returned to West Ham following the dismissal of Manuel Pellegrini in December 2019, he set himself the task of building «a new West Ham».

Moyes already knew the club. The Scot had been jettisoned for Pellegrini in May 2018 despite guiding West Ham to safety following the dismissal of Slaven Bilic when the Hammers found themselves in relegation trouble.

Three wins and 12 points from the final seven games of the extended 2019-20 season allowed West Ham to finish five points clear of relegation.

Moyes