West Ham and Liverpool have discovered their Europa League last 16 opponents after the draw and it’s made things awkward for Daniel Kretinsky.
West Ham have been drawn to face German side Freiburg in the Europa League last 16 having beaten them twice in the group stage.
Meanwhile, the Hammers’ Premier League rivals Liverpool have been drawn against Czech league leaders Sparta Prague.
West Ham fans will know but Liverpool supporters may not be aware of the big link between the Hammers and Sparta Prague.
Draw hands Kretinsky a big dilemma
West Ham’s second biggest stakeholder Daniel Kretinsky also owns Liverpool’s last 16 opponents Sparta Prague.
Earlier today we reported on a potential dilemma for the West Ham co-owner if West Ham were to draw his boyhood club Sparta in the knockouts.
Well the fact the Czechs have been drawn to face Liverpool also creates a quandary for the secretive billionaire.
Anfield or London Stadium for Czech Sphinx?
Because – as group winners – both West Ham and Liverpool will play the second leg of their last 16 ties at home on March 14th.
Kretinsky cannot be in two places at once. So he faces a massive decision over whether to attend West Ham vs Freiburg at the London Stadium or Liverpool vs Sparta Prague at Anfield that day.
Either way his decision could upset one group of supporters.
Even if West Ham and Liverpool’s games are staggered at 5.45pm and 8pm that day – as they may well be for TV coverage – it would be almost impossible for Kretinsky to get to both.
Unless he can get between the two via helicopter.
Not the first Hammers quandary for co-owner
He may well choose to watch them on TV instead – but then what’s the point of owning football clubs if you can’t be there to enjoy the big occasions? Perhaps he will make a decision depending on the scorelines going into those second legs.
It won’t be the first time Kretinsky has faced a moral dilemma since buying 27% of West Ham for £150m back in 2021.
The Czech Sphinx realised a dream by owning his boyhood club Sparta Prague.
And Kretinsky loves Sparta so much he admitted he had “a huge mental and moral reservation” about attending West Ham’s Europa Conference League final at the home of their bitter rivals Slavia Prague.
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