'We are ready' - West Ham sent strong message ahead of Europa League clash

It’s just over 24 hours to go before West Ham face a side that are yet to be beaten in either their domestic or European campaigns this 2023/24 season. Bayer Leverkusen welcome the Irons to the BayArena tomorrow night and while David Moyes’s side are on the hunt for more European silverware, Xabi Alonso has no intention of letting his unbeaten run be ruined.

Leverkusen currently sit 16 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and have won 24 out of 28 games, drawing the remaining four. Similarly they have reached the DFB-Pokal Final - where they will take on 1. FC Kasierslautern - and they now hope to succeed on the continent too.

Speaking ahead of the European clash, Alonso has issued a word of warning to the London Stadium club and appears unfazed by the Irons’s 2023 accomplishments in Europe.

“We know what West Ham can do,” Alonso said. They have experience in Europe, last season they were Champions of the Conference League. We want to go further and starting tomorrow and then next week in London we have to play to our own game. We are ready.”

The Spaniard also offered an injury update and it appears the Bayer boss will enjoy a nearly full squad with only goalkeeper Adam Hlozek out of action for tomorrow’s game. “Just Adam Hlozek is injured from the weekend”, Alonso continued. “Matej will play in goal. Victor Boniface is fully fit to play, so he could be used from the start tomorrow.”

West Ham, on the other hand, will be missing the expertise of Jarrod Bowen who suffered from what David Moyes described as a potential ‘knee to the hip or ribs. He’ll be incredibly still, and it could restrict his movement, so I’m going (to have to see). Alphonse Areola is the only other injury concern after enduring a tweak in his groin.