Preview | U21s host Mönchengladbach in final International Cup group game

West Ham United U21s v Borussia Mönchengladbach II
Premier League International Cup Group B, Chigwell Construction Stadium, Tuesday 10 December 2024, 7pm GMT

West Ham United U21s will conclude their Premier League International Cup (PLIC) campaign on Tuesday evening as they host Borussia Mönchengladbach II at Chigwell Construction Stadium.

Although the young Hammers fought back from two goals down to earn draws in their first two games against SL Benfica and Athletic Club, defeat against group leaders Olympique Lyonnais 2 all but condemned Mark Robson’s troops to a group-stage exit.

On the other hand, Mönchengladbach will be hoping a win and six points in total will be enough to secure their place in the knockout stages.

Tickets...

Tickets are available to buy on matchday at the turnstiles, priced at £5 for Adults and £1 for U18s.

West Ham United men’s Season Ticket Holders can attend the fixture for free, and just need to show proof of their Season Ticket at the turnstiles.

Travel...

The most convenient way to reach Chigwell Construction Stadium is by public transport.

Dagenham East station on the London Underground's District line is situated about 500 metres from the ground. On exiting the station, turn left and the ground is in Victoria Road, which is the fifth turning on the left-hand side after about 400 metres. You will see the stadium at the end of the cul-de-sac.

For those travelling by bus, fans can take the route 103 from either Romford railway station which is served by Greater Anglia, TfL's Elizabeth line and London Overground, or Rainham station, which is served by c2c rail services. The 103 has stops on both sides of Rainham Road South, just north of Victoria Road.

Supporters using public transport are advised to check their journeys before they travel, using resources such as TfL’s Journey Planner and the TfL Go app. Supporters may also wish to visit the National Rail website if travelling on the rail network.

No parking is available at Chigwell Construction Stadium. Street parking in the local area is available, but motorists should take note of restrictions.

How To Follow…

A live stream of the fixture will be available across the Club’s website, app, TikTok and YouTube channel. A match report, highlights and reaction will also follow shortly after the full-time whistle.

Premier League International Cup Explained…

First introduced in the 2014/15 season as part of a strategy to provide Premier League academies with international experiences, the PLIC comprises of the 16 top finishers in Premier League 2 and 16 invited international clubs.

Participating clubs are split into four groups of eight, with four PL2 and four invited international clubs occupying each group. Each side play four group-stage games, with every fixture featuring one PL2 team hosting an international opponent at their home ground. The top two of each group progress to the quarter-finals.

Opposition...

Borussia Mönchengladbach boast a rich history of developing their own young players. In the 1970s, competing with the financial muscle of Bayern Munich, ‘Gladbach took their own approach to building success, developing their own players. Nicknamed ‘the Foals’, for their youthful and energetic style of play and emphasis on homegrown talent, they became the first team to win the Bundesliga twice in a row and went on to win it five times in total during the decade.

Their model of homegrown success remains an inspiration for the club. Lothar Matthäus and Marc André Ter Stegen are a couple of the world-renowned players to come through their ranks. Today, their ‘young Foals’ currently compete in the Regionalliga West, the fourth tier of German football and the first step in which teams are split into regional leagues. Halfway through the campaign, as German football pauses for the holiday season, Borussia sit fifth, eight points adrift of the only promotion place occupied by Duisburg.

In the Premier League International Cup, Mönchengladbach beat Sunderland 3-0 in their opening fixture, but have since fallen to defeats at Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough.

Ones To Watch...

Among the players to keep an eye out for on Tuesday evening, Noah Pesch certainly stands out as a man in form. Top goalscorer in the Regionalliga West, Pesch has 13 goals and seven assists this season from left wing. He also scored in Borussia’s 3-0 win at Sunderland in September. Signed from local rivals Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, Pesch has trained with the first team several times during international breaks and has even made appearances in friendly matches. The 19-year-old will continue to make a case for the first team when the U23s travel to east London on Tuesday evening.

Another impressive attacking young player in the Borussia ranks is Charles Herrmann. Also signed during the summer, from lower Rhine rivals Dortmund, Herrmann is known for his dribbling, vision and creativity on the ball. The left-footed attacking midfielder can play on both flanks and also has an eye for goal. Like Pesch, Herrmann was also on the scoresheet in their win against Sunderland. Son of former Ghanaian international Charles Akonnor, Herrmann won the U17s World Cup with Germany last November.

How Things Stand in Group B…

With two points from three games, it is highly unlikely West Ham will qualify for the knockout stages. For the Hammers to make the quarter-finals, they will have to beat Borussia Mönchengladbach by at least two goals and hope all four remaining games end in draws.

Remaining Fixtures

West Ham United v Borussia Mönchengladbach

Middlesbrough v SL Benfica

Blackburn Rovers v Athletic Club

Sunderland v SL Benfica

Middlesbrough v Athletic Club