Thilo Kehrer says West Ham United are mentally ready to reach the Europa Conference League Final after their semi-final first leg win against AZ Alkmaar.
The Hammers will take a slender lead to the Netherlands next Thursday after coming from a goal down to win 2-1 in the first leg at the London Stadium.
Second-half goals from Said Benrahma and Michail Antonio secured victory, but the Irons found themselves behind after a controversial opener from Tijani Reijnders. Lucas Paqueta appeared to have been fouled in the build-up after being shoved in the back by Sam Beukema deep in AZ territory.
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The visitors countered after Turkish referee Halit Umut Meler waved play on with Reijnders beating West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola from distance to put AZ a goal up just minutes before the half-time whistle.
When asked what David Moyes said to his players at half-time and about the controversial Paqueta decision, Kehrer revealed to the London Evening Standard: “That the decision is made. It shouldn’t have been like that but we can’t change it anymore, the only thing is to focus on the second half, to focus on what we can do and be a little more calm and composed once we get in front of their goal and we’ll get our goal.”
Moyes was right as his side got back on level terms after being awarded a penalty on the hour mark. Jarrod Bowen took a hit to the face after going up for a header inside the box, beating AZ goalkeeper Mat Ryan to the ball as the Australian went up to punch it clear. Benrahma stepped up to score his fifth penalty of the season and make it 1-1.
Fifteen minutes from the end, West Ham went in front. Bowen’s corner was flicked on to the back post where Declan Rice was on hand to chip the ball back across goal. Nayef Aguerd’s header was cleared off the line but Antonio was on hand to poke the ball in from two yards out.
The Hammers are now just one game away from booking a trip to Prague for the Europa Conference League Final and Kehrer is confident they can get the job done in Alkmaar next week.
He said: “We’ve got a slight advantage but we know it’s not going to be an easy game, the second leg. We’re prepared to leave everything out on the pitch to make it to the final, that’s our goal.
“I think it has to be a good balance. We have to push and put the pressure on them, but be controlled as well, and calculated in the things we do. Maybe be a bit more clinical in the final third, in the last pass or the last decision, and then I think we have a good chance to create more and bigger chances, to score more goals.
“Then we just have to defend like we did [in the first leg] because I think there weren’t many chances that they had, even though they had some possession. All in all, I think we played a good game, we turned the result around which is very important. Now, mentally we go there ready to get the job done.”
Kehrer added: “We have a team of great players with individual quality but the most important is that we stick together, even through the hard times this season. What’s very important is that now getting into the big games, we’re getting out best form and we’ll just keep on riding that train.”
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