Former West Ham star uses Manchester City to explain London club’s decline after David Moyes | OneFootball

Manchester City’s attacking identity has become the model many Premier League clubs admire but Hoffenheim’s Vladimir Coufal has now warned how dangerous that comparison can become.

West Ham were still competing for European football in Coufal’s final campaign under David Moyes. Likewise, the London-based outfit had previously enjoyed several memorable continental runs. However, the decision to move away from Moyes’ pragmatic style brought their doom.

The Hammers are now battling near the bottom of the Premier League, trying to stay afloat in the English top-flight. Nevertheless, former West Ham star Coufal believes that the club’s intent to mimic Manchester City is the culprit of their demise.

Coufal makes Man City comparison in Moyes dig

Speaking to Capital Football, Coufal suggested West Ham wanted to move towards a more attractive style after finishing ninth in the 2023-24 Premier League campaign under Moyes.

Following the Scotsman’s departure, the dressing room lost important figures, which created more problems at the London Stadium.

“But after that, they wanted something different. They wanted to play attractive football like Man City, scoring a lot of goals, and it always hits you back. Be careful what you wish for,” Coufal said.

“We were a few leaders in the changing room and they were all gone after Graham Potter took the lead. That was the biggest problem.”

However, Nuno Espirito Santo‘s arrival has changed the club’s atmosphere. While the Hammers aren’t back to safety, Coufal believes that Santo might be the London outfit’s last glimmer of hope this season.

Why West Ham’s Man City idea was built on the wrong foundations

West Ham couldn’t simply move from defensive to attacking football because it didn’t suit the squad’s strengths at the time. With Moyes’ squad built for counter-attacking football, Julen Lopetegui‘s expansive style clashed with the players’ strengths.

Hence, the Hammers were caught between identities as their compactness was disrupted by Lopetegui. Likewise, their on-ball stability wasn’t enough to mimic City either. The constant managerial change also made the gap even bigger.

Potter was sacked only after nine months and the instability led to West Ham being in 19th place when Nuno arrived. While Nuno’s success in London is yet to be decided, the Hammers’ project serves as an example of what happens when you lack the structure to play Guardiola’s football.