Before the quarter-final duel against Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham United feels strengthened by their own international successes and dreams of a final against Liverpool.
Before the quarter-finals of the Europa League, there was loud criticism of UEFA in England: The British representative of the fan organization Football Supporters Europe called it “pathetic” in a statement that only 12,000 tickets were given to fans at the final on May 22nd in Dublin Both participants in the final (April 10, 2024) should go. In a stadium whose capacity would actually allow twice the number of fans from both camps.
Liverpool vs West Ham – possible English final in the Europa League
The final in Dublin is of particular interest from an English perspective because it could lead to a duel between two Premier League clubs: Liverpool FC and West Ham United. The table, including possible semi-final pairings, has already been drawn. Should Jürgen Klopp’s Reds prevail in the quarter-final duel against Bergamo, they would face Benfica or Marseille in the semi-finals.
In the final it could actually be against the Hammers, for captain Kurt Zouma the clear goal of the team from London’s East End: “It would be incredible to win this cup,” said Zouma before the first duel with Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday evening (April 11th). .2024, from 9 p.m. in the live ticker at sportschau.de).
Live ticker Bayer Leverkusen – West Ham United arrow right quarter-finals arrow right
Zouma already celebrated triumph in the Conference League with West Ham last season. “That was great, but now we want the next title,” said Zouma, who won the premier class with Chelsea in 2021 and could complete his collection of European titles.
In the Premier League, West Ham are currently in seventh place, which would only entitle them to take part in the Conference League, but Newcastle is breathing down their necks with a game in hand. The Champions League ranks are out of reach with six league games left – unless the Hammers triumph in the Europa League and thus reach the premier class.
Sportschau Europa League Live, April 11, 2024 8:59 p.m
To do this, they would first have to get rid of the high-flying team from the Bundesliga. “We know that they haven’t lost for a long time. It’s up to us to change that. We have to beat the best if we want to get to the final,” said captain Zouma and demonstrated self-confidence: “We know what we’re capable of, “We have a lot of experience. We’re going to Leverkusen with a lot of confidence.”
West Ham without top scorer Bowen
In the round of 16 against SC Freiburg, when the Breisgauer lost 5-0 in London, West Ham already showed what they are capable of offensively. In the next duel with a Bundesliga club, they will now have to do without their best goalscorer Jarod Bowen. Bowen was injured in the win against Wolverhampton last weekend and will be out for at least the first leg at the BayArena, the club confirmed on Wednesday.
But the Hammers have other dangerous offensive forces in their ranks, such as Brazilian international Lucas Paqueta, midfield driver James Ward-Prowse and top transfer Mohammed Kudus, double goalscorer against Freiburg.
Incidentally, Tim Steidten, a former Leverkusen manager, is partly responsible for putting together the squad at West Ham. Steidten moved to the position of technical director at West Ham before the season. In Leverkusen, as head of the scouting department, he played a key role in the transfers of Florian Wirtz, Edmond Tapsoba, Robert Andrich and Jeremie Frimpong – and thus also in the current success of the Werkself.
Now it’s time to see his former club again, sooner than he wanted, as Steidten admitted: “When the draw was made, I thought: Please not Leverkusen and not Liverpool. I would have preferred to meet them in the final.” But a final against Liverpool is still possible.
