Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte has told Sky Sports that West Ham United showed the high standards of the Premier League by beating Sevilla in the Europa League last 16.
David Moyes’ side booked their place in the quarter-finals and dates with Lyon on April 7 and 14 on Thursday. The Hammers trailed their La Liga opponent 1-0 after the first-leg in Spain earlier this month. But Andriy Yarmolenko hit an extra-time winner in east London.
Tomas Soucek gave West Ham an extra half an hour to beat Sevilla when he guided Michail Antonio’s cross home. The midfielder delivered a precise header to lift the ball into the far corner. While the Irons defence stood strong to silence the side second in Spain’s La Liga.
Sevilla have proven themselves as Europa League specialists after winning four of the last eight editions. But the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium outfit are also pushing Real Madrid for Spain’s top-flight this term. Albeit they sit 10 points behind Los Blancos after 28 games.
Scoring two with Yarmolenko tapping in an emotional 112th-minute winner was no easy feat, though. Sevilla have La Liga’s best defence, having conceded just 19 goals all season.
Tottenham boss Conte says West Ham showed Prem’s ‘very high’ standard vs Sevilla
Tottenham boss Conte feels West Ham showed the ‘very high’ standards of the Premier League by beating Sevilla on Thursday. The Italian now expects Moyes’ men will give his side a challenge when the Hammers travel to north London in a key clash this Sunday.
“My reaction to West Ham’s game was our game will be very difficult,” Conte said. “If West Ham can beat Sevilla, who are second in Spain, it means the level of this league is very, very high. But now we are more complete and ready to fight until the end.”
Tottenham trail West Ham in the Premier League table on goal difference in seventh and sixth place respectively. But Spurs have one game in hand over the Hammers, that can see Conte’s side move fifth – above Manchester United – with Arsenal sitting in fourth-place.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
