Winning the Europa Conference League is the only way to save West Ham's season and David Moyes fears the club's fight for Premier League survival will get in their way.
Moyes wants his players to use their next two games - Newcastle at home on Wednesday and Fulham away on Saturday - to steer themselves clear of the relegation race.
West Ham could then focus on their trip to Gent in the quarter-final first leg Europe.
'It's funny, I heard someone on the radio saying, "I would rather get relegated and win a trophy",' Moyes said on Tuesday.