Jarrod Bowen has called on West Ham fans to once again create a special European Night atmosphere at the London Stadium this evening.
The Hammers will play Freiburg for a place in the Europa League quarter-finals after losing the first leg in Germany 1-0.
An early exit risks West Ham’s season petering out and Bowen believes fans will play a crucial role in the club’s bid to continue making European history.
“We’ve seen this before,” said Bowen Standard Sports. “I consider the Sevilla game (at the same stadium in 2021-22) as such a game, even the first legs – Frankfurt at home and Lyon at home and also AZ Alkmaar.
“When the atmosphere is so good and the stadium is shaking, it is difficult for any team to come here and beat us.
“We’re going to need one more of them, we’re 1-0 down and have a chance to reach the quarter-finals of a European competition, so we’re going to need absolutely everyone.
“We have to be the ones to score the first goal. If we score the first goal, the fans will really believe that we can go on and score the next one.”
Since there are still so many teams from Germany and Great Britain in the competition and the games have to be distributed among the broadcast slots, UEFA has scheduled kick-off for 5:45 p.m.
“It’s a bit random,” Bowen said. “It’s a difficult time, but we know the fans will be there in large numbers.”
“It’s up to us to put in the performance that gets the fans behind us. The fans come to watch us play and watch us play well, so we have to do that.”
Emerson Palmieri will undergo a late fitness test on Thursday after sustaining a leg injury in Germany last week.
Be part of West Ham’s biggest game of the season so far when they face Freiburg in a crucial European knockout match at the London Stadium tonight at 5.45pm. Secure your place on eticketing.co.uk/whufcJunior tickets are available from just £10.
