Italian duo Lazio and Fiorentina see West Ham as a big risk ahead of Europa Conference League last 16 draw.
The Hammers discovered the eight teams they could face in next month’s two-legged last 16 European clash last night after the conclusion of the play-off matches.
Italian sides Fiorentina and Lazio, Swiss outfit Basel, AEK Larnaca of Cyprus, Lech Poznan of Poland, Moldovans Sheriff Tiraspol and Belgian duo Gent and Anderlecht all won to seal their place in the last 16.
West Ham won’t have to wait long to find out which of those clubs they will face with the draw taking place on Friday from 12pm at the House of European Football – UEFA’s headquarters in Switzerland.
West Ham are among the favourites to win the competition alongside the likes of Villarreal, Nice, Fiorentina and Lazio.
Our Premier League form may not back that up. But West Ham are clearly underachieving domestically and have won all eight of their European games this season – including a two-legged qualifier.
Throw in the fact that the Hammers were beaten Europa League semi-finalists last season and it is easy to see why other clubs may want to avoid us in the draw.
Well that certainly seems to be the case for two of the fancied sides despite having plenty of European experience between them.
Because Italian duo Lazio and Fiorentina see West Ham as a big risk ahead of Europa Conference League last 16 draw.
Football Italia have described the prospect of either club being drawn against the Hammers as a ‘risk’.
Italian duo Lazio and Fiorentina see West Ham as a big risk ahead of Europa Conference League last 16 draw
And Hammers News’ man in the know over in Italy, Serie A expert Domenico Ragno says both clubs are desperate to avoid West Ham.
Ragno, who revealed on Hammers News that Gianluca Scamacca was keen to sign for West Ham before he joined the club in the summer, says neither will take much notice of the Premier League standings ahead of the draw.
“In Italy these clubs know how difficult it can be to juggle European campaigns with the domestic league,” Ragno told Hammers News.
“But given the huge strength of the Premier League in particular neither Lazio or Fiorentina will take much notice of West Ham’s domestic struggles as it will have little bearing come a knockout game on an exciting European night.
“Both will assume they will face the best of West Ham – which we all saw in the Europa League last season – and prepare accordingly.
“But make no mistake neither club wants to face the Hammers and there is a rather typical sceptical Italian superstition that Scamacca’s involvement would have a big say in those games as he will be highly motivated.
“For Lazio this is a bit of a distraction this season.
“Yes they would love to win a trophy, but they are right in the shake-up for a Champions League place and that is their priority. Fiorentina, though, are struggling a bit like the Hammers and although they are not in any real relegation danger, the Conference League and Coppa Italia – they are in the semi-finals of that over two legs in April – is their only realistic hope of European football for next season.”
Facing West Ham’s Italian cousins Lazio would be a special match for supporters who share a special relationship.
It would also see West Ham face former star Felipe Anderson and rumoured summer target Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
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