West Ham fans have got their own back on bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur with a ruthless message after their AZ Alkmaar defeat.
There is no Europe for West Ham this season for the first time in four years.
But their rivals Tottenham Hotspur are in the last 16 of the Europa League.
And the Hammers were particularly interested spectators when Spurs went to Holland last night.
West Ham enjoyed memorable European adventures over the last three three years.
Red cards and rank refereeing saw the Irons harshly beaten in the Europa League semi-finals by Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022.
That was after overcoming the likes of Sevilla and Lyon.
West Ham then brought home something that has eluded Tottenham for 17 years when they won the Europa Conference League the following season.
The Hammers were edged out of last season’s Europa League in the quarter-finals by Bayer Leverkusen.
West Ham set records as they went their entire Conference League run without defeat.
On their way to final glory against Serie A side Fiorentina, the Hammers faced AZ Alkmaar in the semi-finals.
At the time, West Ham’s rivals such as Tottenham, had belittled the competition.
West Ham fans’ ruthless message to Spurs after Alkmaar defeat
That’s despite Spurs tumbling out at the group stage the season before.
West Ham beat AZ Alkmaar home and away to advance to the final in Prague in 2023.
While the Hammers lapped up the celebrations, fans from the likes of Spurs scoffed at the opposition and achievement.
“Well done on beating Alphabet FC” was one barb aimed at West Ham that particularly springs to mind.
Fast forward less than two years and Tottenham faced the same opponents.
Except there was a very different outcome.
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has bemoaned a lack of rest and injuries all season long.
The under pressure Australian has been like a broken record.
But after having an eight-day break and getting some players back fit, Spurs put in one of their worst performances of a dismal campaign to lose 1-0 at Alkmaar.
Now West Ham fans have sensed the opportunity to bite back, sending a ruthless message to Spurs after the AZ Alkmaar defeat.
‘Spurs losing to one of those ‘pub teams’ we beat’
Prominent Hammers X account West Ham Central, which has over 120,000 followers, responded to Tottenham posting the full-time result with a video of Pablo Fornals’ memorable winner at Alkmaar, saying: “Beating Alkmaar away in Europe isn’t for everyone.”
A West Ham fan bit back at another common jibe aimed at the club during the trophy run.
“Spurs losing to one of those ‘pub teams’ we beat during our unbeaten European campaign,” the fan said.
Another mocked infamous comments made by Spurs fans to West Ham at the time, adding: “(They said) ‘My nan could’ve won it’.”
West Ham’s win in Alkmaar resulted in one of the most iconic photos in the club’s recent history as Fornals stood on the advertising hoardings to celebrate in front of the travelling fans.
A Hammers fan posted that picture, saying: “Winning in Alkmaar is not for everyone Spurs, cry some more.”
Another West Ham supporter said: “Beating AZ Alkmaar and getting a clean sheet in their own backyard ain’t for everyone.”
‘Not calling it tin pot now are they?’
It was then suggested Spurs may have changed their tune.
“They’re not calling this cup tin pot now are they?” another fan added.
Re-posting a video from West Ham’s official account of the winner in Alkmaar in 2023, another supporter couldn’t resist a dig at Tottenham.
“Beating Alkmaar away isn’t for everyone,” he said.
Another large Hammers X account with over 75k followers, West Ham Transfers, shared the final score with a message.
“Winning in Alkmaar just isn’t for everyone, and that’s ok.”
Another shared the same message, tagging in Spurs’ official account for good measure with a picture of the final score when West Ham played there.
“Alkmaar away ain’t for everyone,” the fan added.
Spurs do of course still have the second leg in London next week.
They will have to play a lot better than they did in Holland to stand a chance.
Hammers fans will be hoping they haven’t gone too soon with the banter.
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