Jarrod Bowen absolutely loves playing alongside Lucas Paquetá and, based on West Ham United’s performance in the 2-1 win over SC Freiburg, it is easy to see why!
Bowen led the line superbly in Germany on Thursday evening and laid on a superb cross for Paquetá to power home the Irons’ opener from on eight minutes, with the Brazilian marking his 50th appearance in Claret and Blue with the fine finish.
The two continued to look a threat throughout, combining well with Mohammed Kudus in a free-flowing attacking trio, and Bowen was particularly thrilled with how they took the game to Freiburg in the UEFA Europa League Group A victory.
“We started very well,” Bowen told West Ham TV. “We got our press right, we hurried them and we got the early goal. But we knew we weren’t going to control all the game. They’re a tough side and they’ve done so well in Europe and in the Bundesliga over the years. With the atmosphere we were playing in, it was difficult, but we dug in well and we won the three points.
“The first goal was nice. It was something we’ve worked on, with myself playing as the No9. I saw the space in behind and I got in behind, and it was about finding someone with the cross. And what a leap from Lucas Paquetá! It was a great header to put us in the lead and it was nice to see something we’ve worked on pay off.
“Lucas gets better with every game we play in and you never know what he’s going to do with the ball. He’s got so much about him, with so much flair and control. But the one main thing when playing for this Club is the hard work. And you can see he’s always running around, wanting to win the ball back and take the tackles from the opposition.
“He takes the pressure off us and, when we need a focal point, we know we can rely on him. He’s getting better in every game and I love playing with him.”
The Irons were unfortunate to not extend the lead in the first half and Freiburg fought back early in the second, as Kiliann Sildillia powered home a rebounded effort on 49 minutes, with the home side then putting the visitors under significant pressure.
A second goal would come for West Ham though, with Nayef Aguerd turning in another header from a James Ward-Prowse corner on 66 minutes, securing a battling win.
“We knew there was going to be a reaction in the second half,” Bowen continued. “We maybe could have managed it better but we were the better team in the first half, and they had a goal to chase.
“They knew they had to score and they were able to do that, but then we managed the game well and we created more opportunities, and then we got the important goal. It came from a set-piece that we’ve been working on, and with Prowsey’s deliveries you’ve always got a chance.
“We scored two really good goals and got a good result.”
Pundits and analysts had touted a trip to the Stadion am Wolfswinkel as perhaps the trickiest game of the European group stage for the Hammers, and Bowen was proud of the team’s efforts in claiming all three points.
“We’ve taken pride in our group stage performances throughout our time in Europe," he continued. "We knew it would be difficult this evening. We had no travelling fans and we knew it would be a hostile environment, and they played well.
“It was a difficult game but we managed it well. There were times when we were sloppy in possession but we got two really good goals and we’ve come here and won the game, which is a real positive.”
With the result comes history as West Ham United reach a 17th consecutive game without defeat in European competition, a new record for any English team.
Setting such a record is something that Bowen and the team will always be thrilled by, but the 26-year-old insists the team will also use it as motivation to go even further.
He added: “I think that makes us want to keep going for as long as possible. We take so, so much pride in this. When you’re in the group stage in Europe, that’s your first focus.
“When the draw is made, you want to see who you’re playing. If you progress out of the group with six wins out of six – like we did last season in the UEFA Europa Conference League – then that’s always the aim and ambition for us. That can certainly give you confidence in the group stages and makes a statement to the other teams that we might play.”
