Cocky AZ Alkmaar boss Pascal Jansen says he knows the secret to beating West Ham after watching the win over ‘poor’ Man United.
The day has arrived as West Ham welcome Dutch side AZ Alkmaar to the London Stadium for the Europa Conference League semi-final first leg on Thursday night.
The Hammers unofficially secured Premier League survival with a 1-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday night.
And that means full focus and attention can be given to the huge European semi-final with over the next week.
David Moyes and his rejuvenated West Ham side then travel to Holland for the second leg a week next Thursday.
It is a second consecutive European semi-final for West Ham.
West Ham looking to go one better than last year
And the Hammers will be determined to go one better than last season when they were seen off by eventual Europa League champions Eintracht Frankfurt.
Many make West Ham favourites to win the tie and the competition.
But they will come up against a team full of young, athletic, pacy and hungry players in AZ. A team that has lost just six league games all season and average two goals per match.
Moyes will also be facing a manager who believes he’s got the Hammers all figured out.
Cocky AZ Alkmaar boss Pascal Jansen says he knows the secret to beating West Ham after watching win over ‘poor’ Man United.
Cocky AZ Alkmaar boss Pascal Jansen says he knows the secret to beating West Ham after watching win over ‘poor’ Man United
Jansen, who was born in London, believes he saw West Ham at their best on Sunday night. But he believes they played against a poor Man United side.
While respectful Moyes was playing down West Ham’s favourites tag and saying AZ will be tough opponents, his opposite number was talking about how his quick young side can get at the Hammers, especially in one-on-ones.
And he has vowed to attack West Ham to prove his point.
“I was here on Sunday to watch West Ham’s game against Manchester United,” Jansen said in his pre-match press conference as transcribed in full by Hammers News.
‘They can’t stay away from one-on-ones for 95 minutes and we’ll attack them’
“I’ve been following West Ham since the draw and there are recurring elements in every game.
“I’m happy I watched the Manchester United game because I saw them at their best, so I’ve got a good view of what they’re capable of. I got a general idea of them. It was a good game, but I also didn’t think (Man) United was very good.
“They are very capable, very powerful but I don’t think they can stay away from one-on-ones for 95 minutes and we won’t be scared to attack them…
“We tried to find their weaknesses and of course we will try to profit from that…
Double Dutch: Confidence or arrogance?
“Making the final would, of course, mean a lot to us. Reaching the semi-finals is already something that doesn’t happen often and we are very proud to be here. We know that we are facing a big fight, but at the same time we have a chance.
“We will have to play the duels. It doesn’t matter which of the boys does, as long as they play like it’s their last duel on this planet.”
Dutch players and coaches are notorious for having great self-belief. Some say that often borders on arrogance.
We’ll find out over the next seven days whether Jansen’s confidence is misplaced.
What we do know is the AZ boss will have to make do without five players for the game in London.
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