Freiburg manager puts pressure on West Ham United ahead of Europa League tie with ’40 million’ claim
Freiburg boss Christian Streich insists West Ham are the favourites to win their Europa League match as they have back-up players who cost “30 or 40 million”.
The Hammers make the trip to Europa-Park Stadion on Thursday [5 October] aiming to build on their 3-1 comeback victory over Backa Topola in their opening Group A match.
German opponents Freiburg also kicked off their European campaign with a victory, seeing off Olympiacos 3-2 away from home two weeks ago.
Speaking at his pre-match news conference on Wednesday [3 October], as per Freiburg’s official Twitter account, Streich told reporters: “In terms of transfers, West Ham is in an area where someone sometimes sits on the bench for 30 or 40 million. But that’s normal in the Premier League.”
Fair point
Streich does have a point, to be fair, as Mohammed Kudus has mainly been used as a substitute since joining from Ajax in a £38m transfer.
West Ham have multiple players in their ranks now worth £30m plus, and not all of them play every game.
A case in point could be against Freiburg as one or both of Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse may be left out of the squad, never mind the starting line-up.
While money is not everything, as West Ham have shown by finishing above bigger spenders, it certainly helps to be able to assemble a squad packed full of talent.
Freiburg are no pushovers, though, having finished fifth in Bundesliga last season and reached the knockout rounds of this competition.
West Ham will hopefully return from Germany with a positive result, regardless of how many multi-million-pound players they have on the field.
In other West Ham news, a Hammers player could be set for some good news on Thursday [5 October] after a development in the past 24 hours.