Source: SKY_Sports
Zola unsurprised at success
Gianfranco Zola is not surprised that his West Ham side are on the verge of qualifying for next season's UEFA Europa League.
But shortly after the Italian took over from Alan Curbishley in September fans of the club would have been forgiven for thinking that just staying in the Premier League would have been an achievement.
After winning his first two games in charge Zola then saw his side pick up just seven points from a possible 36 leaving them just one place above the bottom three.
But since then the former Chelsea forward has led his side up the table and with just seven games remaining the Hammers currently occupy seventh place, a position which almost certainly guarantees them European football next season.
"That is football," Zola said of the club's turnaround in fortunes.
"A season, especially like in this case, someone comes when the season has already started and he wants to impose his own ideas and it takes time.
"I never for one second lost my belief in the team and in the work that I'm doing. So we're now competing for different levels and I'm very pleased.
"Everyone here has worked very hard for this and everything we are getting is totally deserved and I feel so proud of it."
