Gary O'Neil believes Wolves qualifying for Europe would be 'massive'
They take on West Ham United today
Last updated 15th Apr 2024
Boss Gary O'Neil believes Wolves qualifying for Europe this season would be "massive".
Wolves have already surpassed last year's Premier League points haul of 41 and are currently sat with 42 points in 11th with eight games to go this season.
There is a chance the team could qualify for a spot in Europe if results swing their way, but manager O'Neil admits it will take "a lot of hard work" to achieve.
He said: "(Reaching the European places) would be massive. There's been an awful lot of hard work that's gone in to get us into this position from everybody and we're still right there with eight games to go.
"We're still in with a shout, but it will take a lot of hard work still from now until the end to get us there, but really pleased with the position we find ourselves in.
"It's a home game after two tough away games this week and we've done very well at home, but West Ham will be a tough test.
"They've got a lot of their key players back now, they went through a tough spell. So it will be a test, but one we're looking forward to.
"The players worked really hard for their point away from home the other day, then to be able to add three at home will make it a good week for us."
Saturday's opponents West Ham are three points above Wolves in the table, currently sat in seventh.
O'Neil confirmed that Craig Dawson and Hwang Hee-chan will be assessed for the game, while Matheus Cunha could get more minutes under his belt after returning in midweek.
The Hammers have had plenty of enjoyable moments in Europe themselves recently, winning the Europa Conference League last year, and are in the quarter-finals of the Europa League on Thursday against Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
O'Neil believes Wolves and West Ham are in "difference places", but praised his team for competing alongside them.
"Wolves and West Ham are in different places at the moment in terms of, West Ham are further along in their progression as a club," O'Neil said.
"Wolves had that not so long ago, where everything was moving forwards and there was loads of money available for investment and the club was climbing from the Championship up towards European football, a fantastic journey which the fans will remember for a long time.
"We've recently had to transition away from that and start a new journey, whereas West Ham are probably two or three years into theirs.
"It's different, but the fact there's only three points between us and the fact we're about to play them at home shows how well the boys have done this year because West Ham are in a different place to us at this moment with transfer fees and players available to them, so the fact we are in and around competing with them is huge credit to our group."