Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou has come to the defence of West Ham United counterpart David Moyes, who he says is “one of the outstanding managers in the game”.
The Hammers host Tottenham on Tuesday evening as they bid to beat their London rivals for the second time this season, having won 2-1 in December.
West Ham are seventh in the Premier League table and in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, yet some fans have called for Moyes to be sacked in the wake of last weekend’s 4-3 defeat to Newcastle United.
“I think he’s an outstanding manager. I rate him so highly,” said Postecoglou in his pre-match press conference.
“He is one of the ones I have always rated highly. Longevity in the game means something, especially at this level.”
The Australian added: “Whether it was at Everton or the difficult job he had at Man United, he went abroad and has never stopped coaching.
“I think he has done a brilliant job at West Ham and anyone that thinks otherwise… the team they are today, the players they’ve got there, they have some high-quality footballers in that team and I think they’re going to get better.
“I guess it’s a bit of today’s world we live in where there is always a short-term reflex to everything that happens, but I’ve got no doubt he is one of the outstanding managers in the game.”
Moyes’ current contract will expire in the summer, but the Scot says he will wait until the end of the campaign before making a decision on his future.
