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Perhaps the afternoon onslaught of slashing rain had washed West Ham clean of their remorse, a year on from their Europe League semi-final defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt. Perhaps this Europa Conference League semi-final with AZ Alkmaar is just a step down in competition. Either way, its first leg marked a liberating step forward for West Ham, who battled from behind to emerge 2-1 winners at home on Thursday. The 2006 FA Cup final, a soul-splintering affair for the Hammers, remains the closest the club has come to a trophy in over 40 years, and while that shattered spirit is arguably still to be restored, its fragments seemed to glint when West Ham reached the final four of the continent’s second competition 12 months ago. And again they gleamed on Thursday, in the soaked, steel silo of the London Stadium, where the reserves of fans’ faith were rewarded by a second-half rally. While West Ham's narrow, nervy win over Manchester United on Sunday was about West Ham maintaining their place in the Premier League, this game was about David Moyes' side mentally measuring themselves against last year's team, which was physically more formidable but proved emotionally fragile against Frankfurt. Sixty thousand home fans offered emotional support on this occasion, soundtracking the scenes before them as they had done in the knockout ties of last season, rattling the bolts of this silo with each roar, while the Alkmaar faithful bounced and buoyed their on-pitch avatars. Early on, however, exuberance was Alkmaar's best offering, and even that left them too exposed. West Ham were eager to exploit the space they saw – whether Lucas Paqueta was pirouetting into it or Michail Antonio was marauding through it. The home team failed to capitalise on early opportunities to establish a lead, however, with Jarrod Bowen misjudging the angle of a header and the timing of an incoming cross. Still, West Ham were the stronger and slicker side and nearly struck first when Said Benrahma forced Mathew Ryan into a desperate, fingertip save with a curving, first-time effort. The rising pressure around the Alkmaar goal was greeted by raucous reactions in the stands. The excitement turned to aggravation, though, as the home fans and players vented over what they perceived to be an unpunished push on Paqueta. His fall seemed theatrical, and against the odds, Alkmaar closed the first act of this semi-final with a goal. The visitors, apathetic to West Ham's appeals, picked out Tijjani Reijnders in an embarrassment of space, and his rifled shot bounced over the gloves of a despairing Alphonse Areola. West Ham had little time to spare in the second half, but Alkmaar felt they had plenty to waste. That was until they forfeited their advantage when Ryan clawed at Bowen's face to prevent a close-range header, giving away a penalty and receiving a booking. The noise, as Benrahma whipped his spot kick beyond Ryan, was brutal. So was West Ham's oppressive pursuit of a second goal to transform this tie, or at least reshape it into its intended outcome, with 20 minutes remaining. Within ten, the oppression had paid off. Nayef Aguerd's header was cleared off the goal line but only as far as the looming Antonio, who stabbed the ball home to puncture Alkmaar's hopes of leaving London with a lead. It was in the final throes of this game that West Ham demonstrated how vital those goals had been in unshackling the chains of their last European semi-final. Courtesy of interplay between Paqueta, Benrahma, Declan Rice and substitute Danny Ings, Moyes' side exhibited the kind of free-flowing football that has eluded them too often this term. Next week, West Ham travel to the Netherlands to cleanse themselves of the spirit of Frankfurt. They will be carried by a soul that is stirring with each of these European nights. Read More Erik ten Hag reveals David De Gea contract stance after costly mistake at West Ham Manchester United’s fragility allow Liverpool back into the battle for Europe West Ham vs Manchester United LIVE: Premier league result and reaction Declan Rice among West Ham players expected to be fit to face Manchester United Six clubs, only three survive: Who can escape the Premier League relegation fight Record-breaker Erling Haaland makes the extraordinary look predictable again

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Wayne Rooney roared onto the scene as a player but is taking a more patient approach to coaching as the Manchester United and England great strives to become a top manager. Nobody could forget his stunning breakthrough as a teenager with Everton and then the national team, leading to his big-money move to Old Trafford in 2004. Rooney was a force of nature that won trophies aplenty as records fell with United before winding down his career with spells at Everton, DC United and Derby. The forward hung up his boots in January 2021 to take on the full-time managerial role at County, steering them through tough times during a rollercoaster start to his coaching career. The 37-year-old decided to return to the USA and has overseen a marked improvement since taking over then Major League Soccer strugglers DC United last July as he builds his coaching pedigree. “It’s been a great experience,” Rooney told the PA news agency. “Obviously I had the challenge at Derby County, which was a difficult one to say the least. “But coming out here has just really been about gaining experience and for me to try and develop as a coach. “I know I am not where I want to be as a finished article, but these next few years are really important in terms of me getting to grips and getting the best out of myself and eventually out of the players. But it is something I really enjoy.” Rooney seems to be approaching his coaching career with a calm, patient mindset – something that might surprise those that watched this aggressive whirlwind of a forward thunder around the pitch. “I think patience is key and understanding that you are going to lose games, you’re not going to win every game and staying calm in them situations,” he said ahead of managing the MLS All-Stars against Arsenal at Audi Field. “I think that’s something that’s really a strength of mine is understanding that. “I’ve picked two difficult jobs to take, to be fair, but I really believe that they’ll help me in the future. I know I am not where I want to be as a finished article, but these next few years are really important in terms of me getting to grips and getting the best out of myself. Wayne Rooney “When DC came in I felt it was a great opportunity to come out and keep developing. “A difficult job in terms of where the club was at, so I had to try to improve the club first of all and get them up the table. “And really just seeing different challenges, different things – obviously languages, culture, religion – and understanding all them different scenarios which could happen if you manage at the top level, which you will have to deal with.” Rooney’s knowledge and experiences have clearly made him an empathetic, considered coach, who is focused on developing himself as well as his players at DC United. “I think it’s a place where I’m coming to work and to learn and develop,” he said. “Of course, after games you can get frustrated and you are always thinking of how the game has gone but I think it’s the right place now, in this moment in time, for me to develop.” With his family back in the UK, Rooney says he lives a “quite boring” existence Stateside around a 45-minute drive from downtown Washington DC. He stays with his fellow coaches and the relaxed environment is allowing the football obsessive to try new things. “If you would have asked me a year ago if I would play with a back five I would have said no,” Rooney said. “Then I’ve gone to a back five quite a few times this season because of probably the quality of the players and it suited the squad more with the players I had. “So, there are small things like that which it has allowed me to learn and develop tactically with different formations. “It’s a great experience for me to come here and work and I think it will really help me moving forward.” Rooney has never shied away from his ambitions to one day manage at the top level, previously saying he would “love” to coach Manchester United or boyhood club Everton. But right now it is DC United that holds his full focus in a competition that feels like it is about to take a giant leap forward. Lionel Messi’s stunning move to Inter Miami certainly has the potential to take football in North America to new heights, while Rooney believes MLS’ true quality has long been underestimated. “I think it’s surprised a lot of people,” he said. “Still now I get agents phoning me up and saying there’s a striker in League Two and he’s ready now to come to the MLS. “I’m like: ‘He’s nowhere near good enough to come and play in the MLS!’ “I think that’s a lack of understanding of the league maybe and there’s maybe a little bit of disrespect towards the league from that point of view. “There are some really quality players in this league who can play at a high level. “There’s different challenges, there’s technically some great players in this league, athletically there’s some really fit players in the league. “It’s a league which I feel is still improving and can get better, but I think it’s really got to a very good level.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Wayne Rooney backs Declan Rice to be ‘leader’ for Arsenal Jamie Smith century puts Surrey in control against Middlesex Stuart Broad reveals addiction to Test cricket after taking 600th wicket

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