What Jose Mourinho just did shows how far West Ham have come under David Moyes

There have been many barometers used to measure West Ham United’s transformation under David Moyes but perhaps Tottenham Hotspur offer the best one.

Moyes to make two big changes for Tottenham and fans will love it

Going into Sunday’s game against bitter rivals Tottenham, West Ham are the fifth best team in Europe’s top five leagues so far in 2021.

The Hammers sit fifth in the Premier League table and will go fourth with a win over Spurs.

It is some turnaround from the relegation-threatened side Moyes inherited from Manuel Pellegrini last year.

Of course West Ham should never have been battling relegation in the first place.

But they were. And Moyes turned things around to keep the east Londoners up.

Just over a year on and West Ham could open up a nine point gap over Tottenham with 13 games of the season remaining.

Whether it be Champions League or Europa League, West Ham are right in the mix for European qualification.

Matches between West Ham and Tottenham don’t need any extra edge.

Jose Mourinho has wound some Hammers fans up with his comments in the build-up nonetheless.

The Portuguese claims West Ham will not last the pace and will drop down the league by the end of the season.

He also suggested West Ham have been fortunate and are doing well because they have had to play less games than his expensively assembled squad.

It was Mourinho’s actions this week that showed just how far West Ham have come, though.

Mourinho elected to rest talisman Harry Kane in their Europa League last 32 tie against Wolfsberg.

He also brought Kane’s fellow strike star Son Heung-Min off after an hour to save him for the Hammers too.

Two other key Spurs stars, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Tanguy Ndombele, were also held back from the starting line-up for the Europa League game.

And to think Spurs fans say West Ham treat this as THEIR cup final.