West Ham should not feel inferior when they aim to reach their first European final in 46 years, says manager David Moyes.
He said before the first leg of the semi-finals that they had a good chance.
They are a really good side, who have put out a couple of big teams in this competition. We have as well. I want us to enjoy it and feel positive about it.
We have to get used to it and think we are in the right place.
It is the first time in his career that he has reached the last four in Europe. His only final as a top-flight manager was in 2009, when he was in charge of Everton.
After the first leg at the sold-out London Stadium, which is so detailed he has been working late into the night at the Rush Green training complex, the 59-year-old took time out from preparing for the match to speak to the BBC about his career in management.
You were out of the game for 19 months after being sacked by West Ham. Is it possible nights like this would return?
I always hoped they would. You need a chance. I think we should not have been let go in the first place. If we had stayed, we might have been a couple of years further down the line.
Thankfully the owners came back. I am very grateful to them. Mistakes can be made in life, but they are big enough to get me back. I was close to another job in the league. I thought I was having a go at it when West Ham wanted me back. The job I was given to keep the club up was more difficult than the first time. It was going to be hard for me. We got through it.
When I was at Manchester, I would have liked to turn it around and do something quickly but over time, it has suited me better to build it, layer on layer, add a bit, next window, improve the team as you go along. We did that atEverton. That was a real build and showed what I could do.
I knew if I could be given a little bit of time at West Ham, there was so much room to improve. Things had to be changed. I think there is. Some of the clubs are putting up with what I have good owners. A group of supporters are behind the team. That makes a big difference.
There has been a lot of criticism of the recent recruitment of West Ham. What would you say?
The media is a big part of it. They want clubs to spend money because there is a lot to say and write about. You have to do things correctly because you are running a business.
There will be periods when you say there isn't anything to buy. It's really important to recruit. If you bring in signings that don't work, you will lose your job.
This year would probably prove that if there was a year that showed spending money might not always be the way forward.
You had short spells at Manchester United and Real Sociedad after you left West Ham. Did you doubt yourself?
A little bit at times. What a chance I had. That club has a lot of traditions. Someone will turn them back into what they were. I did not make it work. I didn't win enough games in the 10 months that I was there.
It would be unfair to put the other jobs in that category. It was a new challenge. Most British managers don't get jobs in big countries abroad. We kept them up because it was a great opportunity. It was difficult. It has been difficult for a long time.
In 1998 you started your managerial career. You have been in charge of over 1,000 games. How long do you think it will take you to finish?
The most important thing is your energy. A manager drives the club through your energy. I am calmer now that I am more experienced. The stresses of the job do not get easier. It takes more out of you.
Even with the media, you can't be sure what you're dealing with. Sir AlexFerguson said that there were lots of things happening and it was changing. He was fed up with some parts of it. In my era, that will happen as well. I love football.
It is something I really enjoy doing and I hope I can keep doing that at West Ham. I might not do it if not. I don't think I will be able to manage as long as Sir Alex or Roy.
Think of your family. You travel and stay in hotels most weekends. You do not know if your games are on Sundays, Fridays, and Saturdays. If you are a football manager, there is very little regularity.
What would you do without football?
I wanted to re-educate myself when I was out of work. Uefa allowed me to work for them. I spoke at many conferences for coaches. Maybe in the future, I saw that as something.
I like the idea of coach education to help young coaches. I'm getting closer to an age where international football could be an interest, but it's not quite there yet.
I am enjoying my job here. While we are getting better and I see West Ham growing, I would like to get West Ham into a really good place before I consider anything else.
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