David Moyes has made a big admission about Lucas Paqueta after the West Ham star dazzled again in the Freiburg win.
If anyone wanted a yard stick to measure just how far West Ham have come under David Moyes then just take a look at their return trip to Germany 18 months apart.
West Ham showed their European inexperience when they were beaten by Eintracht Frankfurt in the feisty Europa League semi-finals back in 2022.
But the Hammers looked every inch a proper European outfit when they returned to Germany to beat Freiburg 2-1 last night.
West Ham set a new English record by going 17 European matches unbeaten with goals from Lucas Paqueta and Nayef Aguerd.
David Moyes’ side have scored in every one of them, 16 of which have been wins. Indeed West Ham have only lost four of their 29 games in Europe in the last two and a bit campaigns – and one of those was a dead rubber in which Moye fielded a team of kids.
One player who has elevated this West Ham side between the Frankfurt and Freiburg encounters is Paqueta.
The Brazilian magnifico has taken the Hammers to a different level.
He was the star of the show again as West Ham produced probably their best 30 minutes for years to take a hold of the game.
Paqueta showed he has it all with a performance of hard work and sublime skill.
And he topped it off by scoring a goal Andy Carroll would be proud of.
West Ham’s manager can be a hard man to please, though.
And Moyes makes big admission about Paqueta after West Ham star dazzled in the Freiburg win.
The Scot says Paqueta, playing his 50th West Ham game, can drive him mad at times but was left in awe of his talisman.
“Lucas was terrific tonight,” Moyes told the club’s official website.
“You can be pulling your hair out at times, with some of the things he does, but let’s be fair we can all stand back and admire someone who has got terrific strength, great ball control, skills with the ball, wants to make risky passes, wants to try things.
“He’s an incredibly talented footballer and tonight he showed that.”
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