Freiburg striker Michael Gregoritsch has praised West Ham and their ‘four or five exceptional players’, despite being frustrated by his side’s 2-0 defeat to the Hammers.
The striker was talking to Kicker following the meeting between the two sides in the Europa League on Thursday, which West Ham won thanks to goals from Mohamed Kudus and Edson Alvarez.
The clash between the two sides was something of a dead rubber given they had both already qualified from Group A but was instead a battle for top place, with both sides sitting on 12 points after the first five games.
It was ultimately West Ham who sealed top spot, handing the German side just their second defeat and thus a place in the play-offs.
That was frustrating for the Germans, who had headed to the London Stadium looking to make their mark and get revenge for a 2-1 defeat earlier this season.
That was not to be the case, though, as West Ham’s quality eventually shone through, something Gregoritsch was keen to point out in somewhat frustrated comments after the game.
“We weren’t good enough, so the opponent looked good,” he said.
“Sometimes they had too much space, sometimes we didn’t even get into duels, we lost others, especially on offense a lot of duels and balls. Then you get into a bit of a whirlpool that you just keep running behind.
“Then West Ham’s quality is too high when they play balls and let them hit with contact, in the center and out wide. We just didn’t do it well. We know that for sure, but it’s okay.
“It’s not for nothing that Paqueta was talked about for €100m in the summer and is a regular player in Brazil’s national team. Also, Kudus, Aguerd and Mavropanos in central defense or Alvarez in the six, Danny Ings comes in – this is a team that we are out against on a day when we don’t play our best ourselves.
“It’s extremely tedious. We don’t go into the game thinking we have little chance. At some point, the plug is pulled, and you just run after it.
“You can train your individual quality, but you don’t always get it right. They have four or five exceptional players.”
