Cresswell Last Word

Last Word: Cresswell on AEK Larnaca

Ahead of West Ham United's UEFA Europa Conference League tie with AEK Larnaca, Aaron Cresswell has the Last Word...

 

We're fully focused on the game against AEK Larnaca in the UEFA Europa Conference League round of 16. It's another massive game and a huge opportunity for us to put things right.

We've had some great times last year in Europe, so we want to [have more of these knockout matches]. We want to progress as far as we can in Conference League, travel all over Europe, and play against the best teams. We did that last year, with the run to the Europa League semi-final, and we want to do it again. I’m sure the fans want that as well.

As a group of players, we have to stick together in times like this
Aaron Cresswell

After the defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, we know the situation we’re in. There are a lot of senior boys in our dressing room, players who have been in football a long time and understand it. But there's not one player in that dressing room that's not pulling their weight, fighting and wanting the best for the team.

As a group of players, we have to stick together in times like this. Yes, it’s an old cliche - and it might sound like it's the same thing every week - but we’ve had a good couple of days of training, and we've got to keep going.

We’ve got to keep progressing, keep positive and stick together because European football brings challenges totally different to the Premier League.

I think the styles, and the travelling as well play a part in why these knockout matches are so difficult. We've never travelled as far as a five-hour flight to Cyprus, so there is that challenge we will have to deal with. It's going to be another tough away game. But one we're ready for.

 

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