It was a night when truly anything seemed possible for West Ham United.
Pablo Fornals started the evening as just one of the near-60,000 Hammers inside London Stadium merely contemplating the possibility of coming from behind to defeat UEFA Europa League favourites Sevilla at London Stadium.
Having joined the Irons ahead of the 2019/20 season – a campaign where the Irons only sealed Premier League safety late on – the Spaniard had already played his part when West Ham were at lower ebbs.
The 2020/21 season had the 26-year-old admittedly ‘dreaming’ as the Hammers, as they set a Club-record Premier League points tally to finish sixth and qualify for the Europa League group stages directly.
The 2021/22 campaign has seen them reach the quarter-finals – a feat which once again is not now merely a dream for Fornals and his teammates but, following a 2-0 win over the La Liga title chasers after extra-time (2-1 on aggregate), an exciting reality.
On a memorable night in the history of his Club, Fornals told West Ham TV that he and his teammates earned the right to dream again.
Again – we’re dreaming again!
We have been dreaming a lot in the last two seasons, and why stop?
I think we had a full week – well, three days, because we played again [against Aston Villa] at the weekend – but we knew we could do it.
It’s what we did through the week: we tried to learn about the mistakes we committed in Seville, and this helped us to win tonight.
Probably nobody would think we’d win against Sevilla because they’ve won the tournament six times in ten years, but when we came from Seville just 1-0 down, I already knew we would have chances to do it.
Getting the score to 1-0, and having the chance to be in the quarter-final in the palm of our hands…
I am telling you, I could still run right now! It was a massive chance for all of these people and it was in our hands.
It’s another good game when I had the chance to start and help the team, to grow around the game, with the game, and I’m really happy because I finished the last minutes in a great shape.
That’s why I’m working inside the pitch and off the pitch to arrive at these moments at a great level, not just physically, mentally as well.
I think there was a period a few weeks ago where we needed to score more goals, even though we created a lot of chances.
Tonight we created a lot as well, but this is West Ham and we need our players. Everyone is ready to help us.
Tomáš did unbelievably, like he did last season and Yarmo is in a great moment, even with the situation he is having at home. I am really happy for both of them.
[The second goal was] not an assist! Honestly, I tried to score because I was in a confident moment. I tried to shoot and score, but this guy [Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou] did an unbelievable stop and let the ball go to Yarmo, and he couldn’t miss.
It’s the best atmosphere I’ve played in this Stadium, a hundred per cent.
We are lucky because we’re going to be playing European football for another round.
Today is not a win for anyone [in particular] – today is a win for West Ham United.
