Westley – The Liverpool game is massive

Terry Westley believes the Hammers has what it takes to get to the final
Having beaten Newcastle United with a resounding 4-1 away win on Friday, Academy director Terry Westley believes the Development Squad are in perfect shape for Wednesday’s semi-final with Liverpool.

In preparation for the mouth-watering tie with the Reds, Westley, who described the semi-final as “the biggest game” of his West Ham career, said he is hoping for a huge claret and blue turnout to inspire the young Hammers to victory.

Speaking ahead of the tie, Westley said: “We’re playing for the opportunity to win a cup final at the Boleyn Ground, in the final season; it’s a mouth-watering prospect and a real incentive.

“We have a lot to thank both Chairman and Karren Brady for their support, the decision is to make it free entry is a bold move, but we want to get as many people to Rush Green as possible and allow them to see the work we’re doing. Whatever the result on Wednesday, we can promise a good game and a great occasion.

 “Getting a crowd in on Wednesday night is paramount because our players need to get used to playing in front of big crowds is very important, but they also need to feel the edge of a semi-final and a good atmosphere will help generate that.”

In the run up to the crunch match, Westley’s charges have been in superb form, losing just one game in the last 15 matches.

In that time, they have won ten of those matches, and their free-flowing style of possession based football has seen them score an impressive 31 goals.

Westley continued: “Usually our focus is on improving players, individually and collectively, but Wednesday’s game is different, we want to win, Wednesday has that edge.

“I think we can beat anybody on our day. Against Newcastle, we really passed the ball well and were in complete control of the game. 

“Our performance was as good as anything we’ve done, it was fantastic. We managed the game ever so well, and it could have been more then 4-1.

 “Hopefully we’ll put in a similar level of performance. I just hope we don’t get overawed by the occasion, but that is one of the challenges we will have to deal with.”