Michail Antonio, reflecting on West Ham’s defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, expressed his surprise that teammate Mohammed Kudus didn’t convert a crucial opportunity during the match.
Despite Antonio’s well-executed pass, Kudus failed to capitalize on the chance, squandering West Ham’s lone shot on target in the 10th minute. Leverkusen’s dominance, with 73% possession, resulted in a 2-0 victory, leaving West Ham facing elimination in the Europa League quarter-final.
Antonio’s optimism remains undeterred as he looks ahead to the second leg, hoping for a different outcome and a more clinical display from Kudus.
In quotes reported by Mirror Football on Saturday (13 April, page 3 of football pullout), Antonio said: “I thought, ‘Mo is finishing that’ – but today wasn’t the day and, hopefully, next week it will be. Hopefully, everything falls for us in the second leg.”
Acknowledging the need for improvement, Antonio emphasized the importance of capitalizing on scoring opportunities to overturn the deficit in the return fixture.
David Moyes, West Ham’s manager, will be counting on his forwards to pose a threat to Leverkusen’s defense in the upcoming match. Despite Leverkusen’s formidable record this season, Moyes believes his team can exploit their vulnerabilities, as demonstrated by Leverkusen’s struggles against Qarabag FK in the previous round.
The atmosphere at the London Stadium could prove decisive, providing a boost for West Ham as they seek to mount a comeback. Moyes will rely on key players like Lucas Paqueta and Kudus to deliver standout performances, while also hoping for the timely return of the injured Jarrod Bowen.
Defensively, West Ham must remain vigilant to prevent further goals, with players like Kurt Zouma and Konstantinos Mavropanos expected to maintain focus throughout the full 90 minutes. With everything at stake, West Ham’s resolve will be tested as they strive to keep their Europa League dreams alive.