Jarrod Bowen: West Ham can’t approach Eintracht Frankfurt arrogantly in Europa League
West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen has quashed talk of the Hammers preferring a Europa League clash against Barcelona to Eintracht Frankfurt, calling it disrespectful.
The 25-year-old has been a key figure in the Irons’ remarkable run to the semi-finals of the competition, grabbing crucial goals in both legs of the tie in the previous round against Lyon to send David Moyes’ side to this stage of a European tournament for the first time in 46 years.
And Bowen is keen to ensure everyone keeps their head in the leadup to the first leg at the London Stadium, emphasising Frankfurt have already shown the danger they can pose.
“I think it would be disrespectful to say that we wanted to play Barcelona especially after Frankfurt beat them at the Nou Camp,” he told The Mirror (28 April).
“We can’t take them lightly at all.
“They are there to be feared but I think we are as well. Especially when you look at the results we’ve had knocking out Sevilla and Lyon.”
Historic Night
Reaching this stage of the Europa League is history for West Ham in its own right but there’s real confidence from everyone around the club that the story can have some more chapters written into it just yet.
If the conclusion ends with Mark Noble lifting the trophy in Seville then it would have to be shelved under the category of fairytale for Moyes and his men, and the perfect tonic for ‘Mr West Ham’ to end his illustrious playing career with.
As Bowen rightly points out though the Irons’ aren’t there yet and Frankfurt are no pushovers, shocking the footballing world with their remarkable triumph over Barcelona.
The Germans raced into a three-goal lead on the night and therein lies the key for West Ham.
If they can nullify the threat of the likes of Filip Kostic and Rafael Borre then they can rely on Bowen to help deliver the killer blow at the other end, something they did so well in previous rounds against Sevilla and Lyon.
It promises to be a special night and West Ham will be desperate to live up to the occasion.
In other West Ham news, this journalist says the club need to be careful with their interest in a reported summer target.
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