West Ham United: Alan Pardew wowed by Aaron Cresswell moment v Freiburg, ‘oh my god’
Alan Pardew was left in awe as Aaron Cresswell scored the third goal as West Ham hammered Freiburg 5-0 in the Europa League on Thursday (14 March).
After losing the first leg in Germany, with Michael Gregoritsch scoring a late winner, the Hammers delivered a special performance at the London Stadium to overturn the one-goal deficit and progress to the Europa League quarter-finals.
Lucas Paqueta, Jarrod Bowen, Cresswell and Mohammed Kudus were all on target on a night to remember for David Moyes men but Pardew was particularly wowed by Cresswell’s effort.
Speaking live via talkSPORT on Thursday (14 March, 6:56pm), Pardew said: “Bowen tries to pull it back; it misses everyone. It comes to Cresswell, and you’re thinking ‘hit it’ – he’s got such a sweet left foot.
“He takes a touch and you think ‘Oh my God, the chance is gone. He should have hit it first time’. But the second touch, it’s right in the corner, curving away from the keeper and just off the inside of the post.
“3-0, and for all that good work that they’ve shown, West Ham’s first attack [of the first half] and it’s in the back of the net.”
Aaron Cresswell fills the void left by Emerson Palmieri for West Ham United
Alarm bells began to ring when Emerson Palmieri was subbed off in the first leg due to an injury, having been a mainstay in David Moyes’ squad this season.
With Cresswell and Ben Johnson the only options in the Hammers squad, fans were never going to be best pleased with either full-back, with the former only starting three Premier League matches this season.
However, the 34-year-old defender was a fantastic addition to the starting XI as West Ham reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League, netting his first goal since April 2022.
Of course, Moyes will not want to be depending on Cresswell too much, with Emerson the first choice at the London Stadium, but it is comforting to know that the veteran is still capable of deputising in the Italian’s absence.
Cresswell is not a long-term fix by any stretch. He was booked for a foul on Kilian Sildillia as the full-back skipped past him, highlighting the Englishman’s weakness.
In other West Ham news, a decision has been made on Kalvin Phillips’ England place.
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