AZ Alkmaar boss Pascel Jansen believes West Ham United’s sturdy backline made the difference during Thursday’s UEFA Conference League semi-final victory with Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd shining in the Netherlands.
Premier League survival, coupled with a first European final in nearly 50 years?
A season which may have tested the loyalty of even David Moyes’ greatest supporters could still end with tears of joy and champagne swigs, West Ham exercising the ghosts of Frankfurt while defeating Eredivisie high-flyers AZ Alkmaar over two legs in the UEFA Conference League.
After Said Benrahma and Michail Antonio helped the Hammers come from a goal behind to secure a vital first-leg win last week, Pablo Fornals finished the job at the AFAS Stadium, racing away before slotting home in stoppage time.
Call it a smash-and-grab, but while AZ dominated 70 per cent of the possession, that they managed just two shots on target throughout 90 minutes in front of their own support is testament to Moyes’ well-drilled West Ham backline.
West Ham beat AZ Alkmaar in Conference League semi-final
“It was the last pass (that cost us),” sighs a disappointed Jansen (RTL7). “We had high hopes to be able to create more. If you get through, it’s about the last ball.”
Zouma and Aguerd stood strong at the back; the latter putting some error-strewn displays behind him just when Moyes needed him most. Thilo Kehrer and Alphonse Areola, meanwhile, produced arguably their finest performances of the season as West Ham set up a final clash with Fiorentina in the Czech Republic.
‘You play against West Ham,” Jansen adds. “A club that is having a ‘lesser’ season, but has no bunglers at the back. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to (turn the game around).
“It is still about being more dangerous in the final phase than we have been (tonight).”
West Ham will go head-to-head with Serie A outfit Fiorentina on June 7th. La Viola were made to work to see off Basel, eventually triumphing in extra-time.
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