Saïd Benrahma is confident that West Ham United are fit to meet the challenge posed by Olympiacos in the Greek Super League in Thursday’s UEFA Europa League match.
The Irons return to Europe at the London Stadium, having been defeated for the first time in 17 European games last time against the Piraeus team.
While the Hammers were on the brink of a 2-1 deficit at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Benrahma says the whole team knows what they can do in important games against continental opponents.
Although the Algerian admits that his performance at Olympiacos is not smart enough, he is keen to help the team rectify that situation on Thursday.
“This last game, to be honest, we didn’t play as well as we should,” Benrahma told whufc. com. “It wasn’t smart for us. We don’t play the same old football and we can do better.
“We have to think about this away game and concentrate on it. We often know that games are tricky and that our performance as an organization in the away game against Olympiacos was not smart for us, but we are confident in our talent. And you can be sure of yourself for the house game.
The Hammers are top of Group A with six draws from three games played so far, and some further wins this week will put David Moyes’ side in a strong position to reach the last 16 of the festival again.
Benrahma and his teammates have worked the educational pitch at Rush Green, and the 28-year-old managed to do well at the London Stadium against his Greek opponents.
“I think we’re in position for Thursday,” he continued. “We have to prove that the away game against Olympiacos was a mistake, a mistake. We have to keep doing what we have done in Europe for the last two or 3 seasons and come back stronger.
“I think we have to win this game and we’re confident we can do it. We just want to bring a little bit of positivity and a little bit more energy, and I think a lot of that will come from us as a group, and some of that will also come from betting at the London Stadium in front of our fans. We can look back at the game in Greece and say we weren’t at our best, and now we can correct that.
According to Benrahma, the presence of the Claret and Blue Army in East London will be critical to this success.
The Irons were met with a raucous atmosphere at the away game two weeks ago, but the number 22 has no doubt that the home at the London Stadium can adapt to any noise being made across Europe anywhere else.
He added: “The enthusiasts will be our twelfth man. When you walk into the London Stadium you see how big it is and how passionate our enthusiasts are. For an away team, that can be a lot to take in.
“Two years ago, in the circular of the 16th against Sevilla. The noise that day was incredible. And so it has been in each and every one of the European evenings we have played.
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