HAMMERS new signing Mauricio Taricco has arrived at the Club, pledging to help Alan Pardew's men win promotion to the Premiership.
And the 31-year-old, who signed on a free transfer from Spurs earlier today, believes that the Hammers have the squad to go all the way this season.
"West Ham United is a very big club," said Mauricio, "and this is an exciting new challenge for me. I missed out on promotion when I was at Ipswich Town, and I would like to go one better with West Ham United.
"The Championship is a very strong league, but there are
some excellent players in the West Ham squad, who have the quality
to win promotion for the Club.
"I am very happy to be at Upton Park and I have to thank Alan
Pardew for bringing me to the Club. Now I hope to repay West Ham
United by doing my best for the team."
The former Spurs player should be right at home, with former team-mates Teddy Sheringham, Sergei Rebrov and Matty Etherington around. However, Mauricio didn't even have time to ask their opinions of the Club, before swapping North London for the East End.
"It all happened very quickly," he explained. "I was not playing at Spurs and wanted to move on. The transfer was completed within a couple of days, and I didn't really have time to speak to the other Spurs players. It's good to see some of my old team-mates though, and it's nice to have some familiar people here."
Mauricio spent six years at White Hart Lane, clocking up 156 senior appearances, after joining the club from Ipswich Town. But, despite his pedigree, the Argentine defender is under no illusions that a first-team place is guaranteed at Upton Park.
"Like every other player in the squad, I want to play first-team football," he said. "But I know that I am not guaranteed a place and I have to work hard for my chance like every other player.
"The manager picks the team and I will just do my best to impress him and hope that I am given my chance." Mauricio may well be given his chance this weekend, as the Hammers take on Millwall in a mouth-watering London derby clash at the New Den. He is certainly relishing the challenge of a derby day debut.
"It is the sort of game I like," said Mauricio, "and I am looking forward to making my debut in a West Ham United shirt. I don't know whether it will be this weekend or not, but when I do I'm sure that it will be a very enjoyable experience.
"I have played in London derbies before, and I understand the tradition that surrounds them." Mauricio has signed on an initial one-year deal with an option to extend, however the tough-tackling defender has eyes only on the present.
"I do not want to look too much at the future right now," he insisted. "I am very glad to be a West Ham player and I want to concentrate on doing my best for the team. Hopefully this season will go very well and we will have something to celebrate at the end of it."
By Anthony Clements