A final thought..

West Ham’s European adventure is on life support after a frustrating 2-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen. While the German giants were always a formidable opponent, the manner of the loss leaves a bitter taste in the mouth for Hammers fans.

West Ham‘s biggest failing was their inability to use the ball effectively. Bearing in mind we were on the back foot constantly, aimless punts and a reluctance to release possession quickly stifled their brief attempts at attacking play. Players lingered on the ball for too long, inviting Leverkusen’s pressure and ultimately losing possession in dangerous areas.

Antonio was an isolated figure against Leverkusen

The decision-making in the final third was equally concerning. Kudus, in particular, was guilty of holding onto the ball for too many touches, failing to recognise the right moment to unleash a pass or take a shot. This lack of decisiveness meant clear-cut chances were a rare commodity for the Hammers.

Adding to the frustration is the suspension of Lucas Paqueta following a yellow card. His creativity and attacking prowess will be sorely missed in the return leg. With the potential absence of Jarrod Bowen as well, West Ham’s attacking options are severely depleted.

The only real positive for West Ham was the performance of Lukasz Fabianski. He pulled off some spectacular saves, preventing the score-line from becoming an embarrassing blowout. Without his heroics, the defeat could have been far worse.