Today’s the day we need to put our Europa League disappointment behind us and begin to forward to what should be another successful domestic campaign.
Of course it was frustrating to have been knocked out by FC Astra for the second consecutive qualifying campaign, but it only served to benefit us last season and there’s no reason why it won’t again.
Last season it was our away form against the Premier League’s big boys that had everyone sitting up and taking notice of Slaven Bilic and the way in which he had got us playing and winning matches.
We came to the Etihad Stadium last term without anyone giving us much of hope of a result, but we left with all three points after an superb performance and some incredible defending.
The same applies today and if anything, it’s going to be a lot more difficult to get anything against Manchester City this time. They are buoyed by the arrival of the world’s best manager in Pep Guardiola and we’ve got several key players sidelined through injury.
But we’re West Ham and, for that single reason alone, you can’t just write us off. Here’s the confirmed starting XI to face Guardiola’s City today…
BREAKING: Team news includes a full debut for @AshFletcher___ and the return of @maanuulanzini10 #MCYWHU pic.twitter.com/RMDYgTjKBV
— West Ham United (@WestHamUtd) August 28, 2016