West Ham United starting XI v FCSB: European rotation in full effect
West Ham United begin their Europa Conference League group stage campaign against FC Steaua Bucharest of Romania tonight.
David Moyes will be looking to take his side beyond the semi-final stage where the Irons came unstuck in the Europa League last campaign to eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Romanian side have a rich history in European competition but things have not gone so well in recent years and this game offers a great chance for them to right some wrongs of the past.
After the unjust 2-1 defeat away at Chelsea at the weekend, West Ham have opted to make seven changes to their starting lineup with summer signing Flynn Downes making his first start for his boyhood club.
Alphonse Areola also returns in goal as he did for most of last season’s European encounters to replace Polish international and Premier League regular Lukasz Fabianski among other changes.
Must win
West Ham dealt with the Europa League group stage expertly last season which allowed them to rest their entire team at home to Dinamo Zagreb in the last of the six matches having already secured top spot in the group.
A similarly easy run to the knockout rounds would be a welcome achievement this time around and they won’t have to contend with clubs dropping from the Champions League this time around either.
Everything is set up for Moyes to bring the first piece of major silverware to the London Stadium in many years and the quest for glory starts tonight.
Downes has a lot of pressure on his shoulders to prove to Moyes and the world that West Ham don’t need to rely on Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek to command the midfield.
If all goes to plan, Areola will have next to nothing to do all evening but European football often throws up surprises so anything could happen.