NO YEARS OF HURT
Antonio: 2023 win makes us feel so confident
BULLISH Michail Antonio says West Ham plan to go all the way in the Europa League.
The striker claims the belief gained from last season’s Conference League triumph means David Moyes’ side fear no one left in the competition.
And they have the advantage of playing their quarter-final second leg against Bayer Leverkusen at the London Stadium, where they have won their past 11 European ties.
“We always think about winning it,” said Antonio. “Whenever we get into Europe we believe, and have got the confidence to win it. There’s some big names out there obviously but one thing we know how to do is win games in Europe.
“We got to the [Conference League] final last year and won it, the year before we got to the semis and felt like we should have done better. So hopefully this year we can do it again.
“Many players go through their career without winning anything and by winning the Conference last year it gives you that hunger to do it again.”
Mohammed Kudus stole the show in Thursday’s 5-0 thrashing of Freiburg by scoring at the end of a 60-yard dribble that Moyes described as a “Roy of the Rovers goal”.
And it went some way to silencing critics of Moyes’ direct style following a tricky run of league form since January.
“It might not be the prettiest but we’re getting results,” said Antonio, before agreeing that he is part of a front four (also featuring Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta) that can be among the most devastating in the country.
“Hundred percent,” he added. “The quality we have behind me: Jarrod bags goals, Kudus with goals and Lucas adds goals but is more of an assist man.
“Going forward we’ve got pace, we’ve got power, we’ve got strength and we’ve got ability to score goals.”
Kudus has been among the Premier League signings of the season since arriving from Ajax in a £36million deal.
And although he is a shy presence in the changing room, boisterous Antonio says the damage the Ghana forward is causing on the pitch more than makes up for it.
“He’s quiet, to be fair,” said Antonio. “In the changing room he’s not bringing much but he’s bringing enough on the pitch so he doesn’t need to bring anything to the changing room. I’m [loud] enough myself.”
West Ham host Aston Villa tomorrow but Moyes is sweating on Paqueta’s availability after he was substituted with calf pain during the Freiburg win.