Alex Kral admits Europa League will be ‘hard’ for West Ham
By Joe Ellis
Czech Republic midfielder Alex Král says the atmosphere within the West Ham squad is really positive as the Hammers prepare for their final UEFA Europa League group game.
Dinamo Zagreb make the trip to the London Stadium on Thursday needing a result to ensure their qualification from Group H while West Ham are already through as group winners.
Král signed for the club in the summer but hasn’t struggled to cement his place in the team with his only appearances coming off the bench or in rotated squads.
“The atmosphere is really good because we’re top of the Europa League group,” Král said on West Ham’s website. “We’re in the top four of the Premier League. It’s positive, but we have to stay focused because it’s not easy,”
“For most of the players it’s the first time in the Europa League, but we have lots of Premier League experience and we have the biggest goals.
“We know it’s going to be hard because big teams are coming to the Europa League. We believe we can beat them, and we need to be focused and sharp like we are in the big games. Of course, it’s possible [to go a long way].”
Taking Europe by sorm
This season is the first in which West Ham have reached the main competition of a European competition this century after being knocked out in qualifying rounds in 2015-16 and 2016-17.
But David Moyes’ Hammers have shown no signs of inexperience of a big European game having won four of their five games on their way to topping Group H.
An even more impressive stat for Irons is the solidity of the defence which has let in just two goals in the competition, both against Genk in a 2-2 draw, which is the least of any team in any group.
Only LASK Linz of Austria have conceded fewer in any of the UEFA European competitions group stages but they play in the third tier Europa Conference League.
Their game against Croatian champions Zagreb is likely to see wholesale changes in the Irons side with group winners already guaranteed and a handful of youngsters to be given a chance.
Harrison Ashby, Ajibola Alese, Emmanuel Longelo, Jamal Baptiste and Sonny Perkins could make their Hammers’ debuts with the majority of Premier League starters set to be rested.
Král should start the game alongside skipper Mark Noble in midfield with Said Benrahma, Nikola Vlasic and Andriy Yarmolenko to form the Hammers’ attack [Evening Standard].
In other West Ham news, the Irons could sign this ‘Incredible’ Salthouse striker in January after an on-air claim by a talkSPORT journalist.
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