Before today's friendly against Juventus to inaugurate their new London Stadium home, former West Ham player and coaching legend Harry Redknapp joined me for a chat about the club's potential bright future. I started by asking him what he thought of their palatial new home, to which he replied; “It’s a fantastic stadium, I only saw it for the first time just over a week ago when I came to do a function in aid of the Bobby Moore Foundation. When you look around the place it can only take the club in one direction and that’s forward”.
 

I put it to him that after the club’s Europa League tie on Thursday, coach Slaven Bilic explained that he found it a little strange playing in the new arena, Redknapp explained that; “Of course it’s going to take time but things change. I remember when I first joined the club at 15 they had the small terrace known as the “Chicken Run” and now it’s a different world altogether with this wonderful new all-seater stadium and I’m sure the club will be successful here”.  

I then asked him what he thought the clubs realistic chances were this season and whether they could arrive in a Champions League place come May. Redknapp replied; “Well’ I’d be lying if I said they were good enough to make the top-four, but I think they’ll have another great season and I think a top-eight finish would be considered a success”. He then added that; “I look at teams like Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur; it’s going to be a real battle to get in the top-four this season”.
 

Finally, I asked the great man if he thought the team could have a successful run in the Europa League. The final word goes to Redknapp who stated that; “Hopefully they can do well there, they have to get these early qualifying games out of the way then they can settle into some good league form and if they can reproduce some of the great football they gave us last season then they have a chance to get to the latter stages for sure.

Steve Mitchell @barafundler