Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso expects a “tough” match in Thursday's Europa League quarter-final second leg against West Ham United.
The German team, who won the Bundesliga trophy on Sunday, defeated West Ham 2-0 in the first leg at BayArena last week.
But despite having an advantage in the first leg, Alonso knows there is still work to do to ensure a place in the semi-finals. The 42-year-old said: “The team has given me no reason to doubt their commitment. I feel the hunger and desire in the players to keep moving forward. No doubt we are ready. I'm absolutely confident.” I'm going to play here to get through it. ”
“We are expecting a tough game. West Ham have experience of reversing draws and getting results, like after the game against Freiburg. “We want to play our own football if we can, just to protect ourselves. I’m not here to.”
Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka echoed Alonso's sentiments, calling on his teammates to take the confidence of last weekend's league victory to the London Stadium.
The 31-year-old midfielder, who played against West Ham several times during his time at Arsenal, said: “When you're in the quarter-finals there's always a hunger to win. We talked a lot about Sunday and we're champions. “It was,” he said. , but we know that tomorrow is just as important a game as the rest of the league games and we are all fit and hope we can have a great game.
“I have experience playing here and we are expecting a big crowd tomorrow, but the result at home gives me confidence to come here and progress to the next round.”
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