If you can’t perform, don’t go on stage. Those were the words David Moyes had delivered to his West Ham players ahead of their biggest game of the season.

On a night where victory was the only option, his team rose to the occasion – and then some.

Two of West Ham’s most important players – Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen – starred in the first act. It was then Aaron Cresswell, a man who has had to play more of an understudy role this season, who took centre stage. Mohammed Kudus scored a solo goal worthy of a standing ovation before he closed the show with a superb second.

Expectations have risen since West Ham qualified for this competition three years ago. Despite coming into this second leg with a 1-0 deficit, they were the favourites to beat SC Freiburg – the team currently placed eighth in the Bundesliga.

But few could have anticipated a demolition as convincing as this.

Moyes had said in 2021 that he wanted West Ham to become a big club in Europe and it is now three European quarter-finals in three years. Even after a night like this, he will still have some doubters. But it is hard to argue with those stats.

This is also a victory that is significant for the Premier League, who are now in a stronger position of claiming a fifth spot for next season’s Champions League.

Two ‘performance’ places are up for grabs due to the new format, with these determined by the two countries with the best average performances in all European competitions this term.

Italy were top with Germany second and England third going into last night’s game. The Hammers eliminating a German side could prove significant in the long run.

Moyes made three changes to the team that drew 2-2 with Burnley on Sunday, with captain Kurt Zouma replacing Nayef Aguerd in defence while Kalvin Phillips and James Ward-Prowse dropped out for Edson Alvarez and Michail Antonio.

Moyes knew his team needed a fast start and they got one. After forcing three corners in the first 10 minutes, the fourth ended with the ball in the net.

Aaron Cresswell’s delivery was flicked on by Tomas Soucek and Paqueta was there to slide in and finish at the back-post.

West Ham could have been 2-0 up shortly after when Antonio got in down the right and cut-back for Mohammed Kudus, but the winger could only side-foot wide from close range.

But a second goal did come just after the half hour mark. Coufal’s header was touched on by Antonio to Bowen, who held off a robust challenge from Christian Gunter before firing a superb strike into the bottom right corner.

There was a danger West Ham would be drawn into sitting back and protecting what they had, but that notion was quashed when a third goal came in the 52nd minute.

Bowen’s cut-back was cleared only as far as Cresswell, who was waiting on the edge of the box. The left back took one touch out of his feet before drilling an arrowed shot into the bottom right corner.

The fourth goal was undoubtedly the best of the night. Kudus won the ball back just inside his own half, dribbled his way past three players before sending a clinical finish into the back of the net.

His second was nearly as good, a rocket from the edge of the box which left Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu no chance.