West Ham veteran Mark Noble has insisted that even if the club win the Europa League, he will not be reversing his decision to retire at the end of the season.
The Hammers take on German side Eintracht Frankfurt in their semi-final first leg at the London Stadium on Thursday.
Noble, 34, has made 564 appearances for the club and admits it “would be a dream come true” to finally lift a major trophy for his beloved Clarets.
But even if West Ham beat Frankfurt over two legs and are then victorious in the final, being held at Seville's Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium on May 18, there will be no U-turn on his retirement plans.
“I’ve been asked this question so many times by so many people,” the club captain said. “The reason we would get into the Champions League is by winning the Europa League.
“Winning the Europa League and lifting the trophy, would I come back? No. And that’s my honest answer. To end on that would be pretty special.
“I was joking with the lads the other day, saying if that did happen, I’d happily come watch the Champions League games with the Europa League trophy on the next chair. But that is way down the line.
“This season for me, after announcing that this would be my last, has been special. It’s not over yet.
“We’ve got an incredible game here and probably a bigger game in a week’s time. To be able to enjoy that with the West Ham fans, with the players and staff, is an incredible achievement.”
Frankfurt are currently ninth in the Bundesliga but arrive in London on the back of knocking out mighty Barcelona in the quarter-finals.
Chelsea 1 West Ham 0: player ratings
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CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy - 6: Both goalkeepers were spectators in a lacklustre first half. More of the same in the second half for the Senagalese bar one double save from Yarmolenko that arrived before linesman’s flag went up. PA -
Trevoh Chalobah - 6: Late replacement for Andreas Christensen at back and lucky not to be punished in first 20 minutes after being caught dawdling on ball by Benrahma. Had shot saved by Fabianksi just before hour mark. Getty -
Thiago Silva - 7: Even usually reliable Brazilian gifted ball to West Ham in first half as Chelsea’s recent defensive wobbles continued. Not really troubled for rest of match, though, with West Ham offering little threat. Getty -
Cesar Azpilicueta - 5: Caught in possession, guilty of passing ball straight to opposition and saw weak shot easily blocked in poor start to game by Spaniard. Better after break as Chelsea improved as a whole. Reuters -
Marcos Alonso - 7: One ball just before break that Spaniard punted out for goal-kick summed up Chelsea’s first-half efforts going forward. Booked in second half for elbow into back of Soucek’s head. Persevered with runs down left and supplied cross for winner. Reuters -
Jorginho - 4: Back in starting XI after missing Arsenal game and helped side dominate possession in first 45 but Italian, and team as whole, guilty of not moving ball around quick enough. Dreadful late penalty hit low and straight into hands of Fabianski. Getty -
N’Golo Kante - 7: Drilled game’s first shot on goal wide of target and was home team’s liveliest player in first half, which isn’t saying much. Then had game’s first shot on target – albeit a deflected one straight at goalkeeper - after 57 minutes. AFP -
Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 5: Decision making and final ball sadly lacking with Chelsea crying out for some midfield creativity. EPA -
Mason Mount 6: Strangely subdued performance from England attacker and little impact until 70th minute shot was blocked by Dawson. Curled shot just over bar minutes after Pulisic goal. Getty -
Timo Werner - 6: German buzzed around without any cutting edge. Had one shot that looked goal-bound until blocked at start of second half but then should have done better with two other efforts – one hit into side-netting, one straight at goalkeeper on the stretch. EPA -
Kai Havertz - 3: Forgot he was playing in first half when his contribution and impact was non-existent. Little improvement after break in what was really disappointing showing from German. EPA -
SUBS: Hakim Ziyech – (On for Loftus-Cheek 75’) 6: Drilled shot wide as Chelsea substitutes provided much-needed spark. Getty -
Romelu Lukaku – (On for Havertz 75’) 6: Hauled to ground by Dawson for late penalty only for Jorginho to fluff his lines. AFP -
Christian Pulisic – (On for Werner 75’) 7: Grabbed unlikely winner minutes after Jorginho penalty miss. AFP -
WEST HAM RATINGS: Lukasz Fabianski - 7: Enjoyed quiet afternoon in sunshine in first half as neither side managed shot on target. Finally called into action in second half with solid rather than spectacular stops. Easiest penalty save he’ll ever make from Jorginho’s powder-puff effort. No chance with goal. Reuters -
Ben Johnson - 7: Hammers’ patched-up defence coped easily with the home attack until late in game when Chelsea pressure, combined with Dawson red card, meant Hammers were finally opened up. AFP -
Craig Dawson - 6: Last centre-half standing for injury-hit Hammers. Brilliant flying challenge on Werner volley early just after break and another important block on Mount’s shot later in half. Had been immaculate until giving away late penalty for fouling Lukaku when he was then sent-off after VAR referral. AFP -
Aaron Cresswell - 7: Great recovery challenge after slipping on edge of box in first half and no problems defensively, one good block after break on Kante strike. No sign of his trademark balls into opposition box. EPA -
Vladimir Coufal - 5: Czech full-back played his part in West Ham’s resolute and well-organised defensive performance that probably deserved a point. AFP -
Tomas Soucek - 5: No chance to show his aerial prowess in home penalty area and should have done better with weak shot that was easily blocked after 56 minutes. EPA -
Mark Noble - 7: Only second start of season for club captain. Veteran was neat, tidy and held his own against Kante and Jorginho in middle of park here before being replaced just after hour mark. Getty -
Arthur Masuaku - 7: Scored a freak late winner in the reverse fixture but no opportunity to repeat that here but impressive defensive work. AP -
Said Benrahma - 7: Pressured West Ham defence well early on robbing both Azpilicueta and Chalobah of the ball. Good workrate but no sniff on goal for Algerian. Getty -
Pablo Fornals - 6: One decent ball through to Yarmolenko in first half but Spaniard failed to make any major attacking impact. Getty -
Andriy Yarmolenko - 6: Hooked shot across face of goal in first half when Benrahma looked better placed to take on chance. Denied by double Mendy save although would have been ruled out for offside even if he had found way past Senegalese keeper. PA -
SUBS: Declan Rice – (On for Noble 62’) 5: Left on bench with Thursday’s Europa League semi-final in mind and couldn’t stop Pulisic scoring late winner. Getty -
Jarrod Bowen – (On for Yarmolenko 73’) 5: No chance to make mark. Reuters -
Manuel Lanzini – (On for Benrahma 78’) N/A. EPA
“I wouldn’t be disrespectful to a club like Frankfurt, they are fantastic, and you don’t reach this position without being a good side,” Noble added. “It’s going to be tough, but I believe we can win.
“It’s a group of players with no egos who work for each other and a manager who doesn’t let anything slide.
“If we play how we know we can play – with resilience, attacking play and defending as a team – I think we can win.”
And manager David Moyes says his team have shown they have what it takes to win big matches at the London Stadium.
“In the main, our home form has been pretty good,” he said. “Beating Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea shows that on our home patch on our day, we can be a good match for any team.
“To beat Barcelona over two games was an incredible achievement and it shows their qualities.
“They’re a big name in German football with incredible support. But we’ve got a really big stadium and a fantastic crowd. It’s really special that two teams with a history are back together.”
