The looming Europa League draw can reignite West Ham’s ailing season this week ahead of the game against Brentford.
Where did it all go so horribly wrong?
That’s the question West Ham fans find themselves asking right now after yet another defeat during a winless 2024.
The Hammers have played eight times since a win over Arsenal consolidated their place in the Premier League’s top six, just off the top four.
It says everything about just how well West Ham had been doing that they have only dropped three places despite failing to win since December 28th.
But both Chelsea and Wolves are now right behind David Moyes’ side. So if results don’t improve West Ham could find themselves in the bottom half soon.
Looming Europa League draw can reignite ailing season
It is very much doom and gloom with dark clouds gathering over the London Stadium.
But the looming Europa League draw can reignite West Ham’s season this week.
If the Hammers are handed a winnable draw on Friday then it could breathe new life and hope into their season. The two-legged round of 16 clash will take place on March 7 and 14.
West Ham eyes will be on the second legs of the play-off round which take place this Thursday night.
Nearly all the ties are delicately balanced. Although AC Milan, Sporting and Qarabag have strong leads over Rennes, Young Boys and Sporting Braga resepctively.
The prospect of the resumption of European football and a winnable tie could inject some excitement back into this West Ham side and fanbase.
It’s certainly sorely needed.
And it may well put a spring in everyone’s step ahead of a tough-looking match against bogey side Brentford on Monday night.
Hammers need excitement back
West Ham have not been the same team since their fixture schedule calmed down to one game per week.
Even Moyes has admitted that himself.
West Ham should also be motivated by the fact the Europa League may well be their only viable route back into Europe for next season.
While it would take some doing, winning it would be rewarded with a place in the new-look Champions League next season.
At the moment that seems like a delusional fairytale. But momentum is everything in football.
So if the Hammers can take some much-needed inspiration from Friday’s draw and get a positive result against the Bees, the season could reignite just in time.
In terms of incentives for West Ham to make this season’s Europa League final they don’t come much better than the fact it is being held in Dublin.
Certainly for the West Ham fans anyway.
In what would be the away day to end all away days, the Hammers are now just THREE ties from making that a reality.
Who could West Ham face in the last 16?
West Ham won’t be drawn against any of the other group toppers at the last 16 stage.
Teams cannot draw a club who are from the same country or a team who were in the same group as them.
That means West Ham will not face Freiburg – who drew 0-0 with Lens in their first leg – in the last 16 should they make it through their play-off.
There are no English sides in the play-off round so that won’t be an issue for the Hammers.
Here are the 15 teams – minus Freiburg – who West Ham could face in March:
Galatasaray, Lens, Braga, Benfica, AC Milan, Feyenoord, Young Boys, Shakhtar Donetsk, Marseille, Sparta Prague, Sporting, Toulouse, Rennes, Roma or Qarabag.
When are the 2023/24 Europa League knockout round draws?
The 2023/24 UEFA Europa League knockout round play-off draw takes place on Monday 18 December.
Round of 16 draw: 23 February 2024
Quarter-finals and Semi-finals: 15 March 2024
What are the 2023/24 Europa League knockout stage dates?
Knockout round play-offs: 15 and 22 February 2024
Round of 16: 7 and 14 March 2024
Quarter-finals: 11 and 18 April 2024
Semi-finals: 2 and 9 May 2024
Final: 22 May 2024 (Dublin)
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