West Ham are back in Europa League action tomorrow night as they take on German side Freiburg in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie.

David Moyes’ will go into the match filled with more confidence following back to back Premier League victories after what had been a challenging start to 2024.

Goalkeeper Alphonse Areola’s outstanding performance at Goodison Park over the weekend helped West Ham to a 3-1 win over Everton. The Frenchman sent out a strong statement to the Hammer’s European rivals saying: “We’ve got a taste for silverware.” following the club’s Conference League win last season, as reported in the Evening Standard.

Areola went on to confirm West Ham’s ambitions of another successful year in Europe and the club’s hopes of ending this season by making it four years in a row of European football, adding: “Now we’re in a good position in our heads to compete in Europe, we’re here for that – to try to reach another European competition next year, and to try to win the one we’re in this year.”

The Hammers had suffered a frustrating mid-season slump in form. Following their win away at the Emirates in late December, David Moyes’ side went on a run of eight games without a win which included an embarrassing 6-0 home defeat against Arsenal.

Last Monday’s 4-2 win against Brentford and the win away at Everton on Saturday will allow West Ham to resume their European campaign with a stronger belief of reaching the quarter finals of the Europa League.

West Ham recorded two group stage victories over tomorrow’s opponents Freiburg, beating the German side 2-1 away at the Europa-Park Stadion in October and winning 2-0 at the London Stadium in the return leg in December.

Written by Finlay Jackson