West Ham manager Potter lauds ‘outstanding coach’ Moyes in lead-up to Everton showdown

West Ham United’s manager, Graham Potter, has addressed the media in his latest press conference as he gears up for a match against Everton this weekend, a fixture that sees him face his predecessor, David Moyes.

Following a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United in their previous outing, Potter is eager to steer his team back to victory against an Everton side that has remained unbeaten since Moyes took charge. The West Ham boss expressed his admiration for the Toffees’ manager.

“He’s performed exceptionally well. I hold him in high regard—he’s a genuinely great person and a top-class coach.

“This match is bound to be challenging—Goodison Park is notoriously tough, and he has them well organized, built upon the solid defensive foundation that’s always been there.

“They are also finding the back of the net now and displaying some fantastic football.”

Potter was also asked about Moyes’ legacy at West Ham, acknowledging its significance as they head into the clash.

“It’s impossible to overlook what David achieved here; he accomplished a lot, including securing the Europa Conference League.

“He set a high standard—his teams have always been tough to play against, and he brought a major trophy to the club, which is incredible.

“Everyone here respects David enormously and wishes him well at Everton, but not when it comes to Saturday!”

Potter then provided an update on German striker Niclas Fullkrug, who has returned to training with the squad after two months out with injury and could be back soon.

“Fullkrug will be training with the team, but he’s not quite ready to start yet,” Potter explained.

“We will evaluate his condition over the next 24 hours to see if he’ll be available, but it may be after the international break so he can get some more training in. We’re also being cautious with Crysencio Summerville post-international break.”

Next, he was queried about Michail Antonio’s potential return before the season concludes following last year’s traumatic car accident, which many feared could end his career.

“It’s too soon to make any declarations, and I don’t want to place any undue pressure on him. It’s fantastic that he’s with us and making progress. We need to continue supporting him day by day and week by week, and then we will see.”

He then addressed questions surrounding Jean-Clair Todibo’s fitness, which has raised eyebrows after several matches where he failed to complete the full 90 minutes.

“His early substitutions are purely related to fitness. We can’t expect him to last 90 minutes immediately. He’s gradually increasing his game time, and he’s also observing Ramadan, which adds another layer of complexity in terms of diet and recovery, especially post-injury.

“But he’s getting stronger each day and is likely to be able to approach the 90-minute mark in this upcoming match.”

In closing, he reflected on the atmosphere at Goodison Park and what it means to face an Everton side that has flourished under Moyes this season.

“Goodison Park is always a challenging destination. It has a rich history and very passionate fans. I’ve had a mix of results there, but success is never guaranteed, and this Saturday will be no exception.

“They’ve traditionally been solid, and while they may have had issues up front in the past, they’ve made noticeable improvements and secured some impressive results. We’ll need to deliver a strong performance, without a doubt.”