Player reveals reaction to West Ham Europa Conference League draw – Believes they could have “advantage”

Gent forward Hugo Cuypers has insisted they are “quite satisfied” at being drawn against West Ham United in the Europa League Conference League.

That’s what he has told Het Nieuwsblad, claiming that West Ham’s current relegation battle could play into their hands.

The Hammers are set to take on Gent midway through April in the first of two Europa Conference League quarter-final meetings.

David Moyes’ side will first travel to Belgium for the first leg of the tie before then hosting Gent a week later at the London Stadium.

They are favourites to progress, having impressed in the competition so far and comfortably beaten AEK Larnaca over two legs in the previous round.

That is something Gent are more than aware of but Cuypers believes West Ham’s precarious situation in the Premier League, where they sit in the bottom three at present, could play to their advantage.

“We are quite satisfied as a team,” he told Het Nieuwsblad in a conversation about Gent’s hopes of success in Europe.

“In the media they often talk about a viable card if the opponent is not well known. Now it is about a Premier League club of which everyone knows enough about the qualities. We want to try to get a good starting position and then we go to London. Hopefully we can go one round further.

“They are now in a relegation battle. Maybe that can play to our advantage, but on the other hand they have already come this far and then you want to get everything out of it.

“They also don’t play European every year, so they certainly won’t underestimate it. We watched the draw with part of the group. Everyone was quite satisfied.

“West Ham is a Premier League club with enormous resources, many fans and a beautiful stadium. This is also a great draw for our fans. Hopefully we will get a full Ghelamco Arena.”