Speaking to the Official Matchday Programme, Ben Johnson reflects on how praise from his peers made a certain UEFA Europa League outing one of his most memorable in Claret and Blue...
For Ben Johnson, his best West Ham performance did not come in a win for the Hammers.
In fact, it did not even come in a draw, but a game in which the Irons were narrowly beaten on their UEFA Europa League journey in the 2021/22 season.
A trip to south Spain to face La Liga side Sevilla in the round of 16 first leg was the biggest test in Europe up until that point for West Ham. In Johnson’s mind, his outing that day was proof that he had the quality to play on the biggest stages.
“I think my best performance for West Ham United, in my opinion, might surprise some people,” he full-back said. “I’m going to go for Sevilla away in the UEFA Europa League. We lost 1-0 that day but I can remember thinking that I had a really steady game and a decent individual performance.
“I can remember everyone – the other players and the staff – congratulating me on my performance. I can also remember hearing people saying, or reading, that they thought I had done really well against Sevilla.”
NO FEAR
Drawing against the, at that time, six-time UEFA Cup winners was West Ham’s reward for a successful Group H campaign.
Four wins from six group stage matches against the likes of Dinamo Zagreb, Rapid Wien and KRC Genk put the Irons straight through to the group stages.
Second-placed Zagreb went into the knockout round play-offs, where they were beaten by Sevilla, setting up a round of 16 clash between the Irons and the Spanish side.
For Johnson, though, the opponent did not matter. That he was trusted to play in such a match, getting the nod at full-back, gave him the confidence to perform.
“It's almost a cliché to say but I feel like there was something in the air in the sense that it wouldn’t have mattered who we drew at that stage of the competition, because we genuinely thought we could beat anyone. Maybe that’s a bit of a fantasy or even some naivety, given it was our first season in Europe, but that’s how we felt.
“I think we proved something though because after Sevilla we obviously played Lyon in the quarter-finals and there was a chance we could play Barcelona in the semi-finals, which I don’t mind saying now was a fixture we all wanted to play just to see how we stacked up against them.
“We weren’t worried about any teams in Europe. We were just thinking about us and what we can do, and that can make you a dangerous opponent for any other side.
“Yes, we’re talking about a big opponent and a big occasion, but ultimately it’s still just eleven versus eleven. We’re all on the pitch in those sorts of matches because we’re good players who can perform at that level. The quality of both teams made both of those matches against Sevilla really good games. It’s always great to play against the best opponents possible and the best players. You know it will be a test and it gives you a boost to be trusted in those matches.”
A CLOSE CONTEST
The challenge of facing the competition’s most successful team was one the Hammers were relishing, but it was essential the side treated the match at Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium just like any other game.
“I don’t remember any specifics from the manager going into this match,” Johnson continued. “I can remember us going through our shape the day before, but there’s always the element of treating these games just like any other match. We knew it was going to be a hard, tough game, and it would be a challenge to get a result from them at their stadium.
“I think we were a bit cagey in the first half but we were always in the game. We had a really good team and we knew it too. Of course, the boss gave us the information we needed, as he does ahead of every game, but it was treated like any other game.”
A fantastic atmosphere greeted both teams at kick-off and the early exchanges promised a frantic encounter. Both sides registered clear chances, with Johnson blocking a Youssef En-Nesyri shot, while a diving Nikola Vlašić could only power his header too close to goalkeeper Bono.
An even first half gave way to a second half that, in truth, was dominated by the Spanish side. And Sevilla made their good spell pay when Munir slammed in the only goal with a powerful low first-time strike, from Marcos Acuña's cleverly crafted free-kick.
Despite defeat, West Ham were far from out of the tie. Johnson especially impressed. Not that the defender really knew it. Not until he was told so by his fellow Hammers.
“Nothing stands out for me from my own performance. When I play, it’s always in the mind of doing your own job and taking care of your own responsibilities. But I can’t say I’ve ever had a game where it’s going through my head during the match that I’m playing amazingly well. I’ve had matches when I’ve thought I’ve been steady and there have also been games where I felt like I could have done better.
“What makes me think it was a good game for me was what other people were telling me. When your teammates are telling you that you played well, or did certain things really well, then that’s quite a big thing. It means a lot to get those compliments from your peers. I was surprised to the reaction from those people in the dressing. In truth, those reactions are the ones that really matter.
“Personally, that match was a massive test for me. Of course, it was for the whole team, it was really big. But I was still really young and I think my performance against one of the top performers in the Europa League was really good that day. Because of that, I think that match with Sevilla was my best individual performance.”
MAGIC MEMORIES
Of course, there was disappointment that West Ham had not taken a more positive result from the first leg, but also a sense that the Hammers could still do something special at London Stadium a week later.
That would turn out to be the case as Tomáš Souček and Andriy Yarmolenko fired home the goals to complete the turnaround and send the Irons into the last eight of the competition, in front of a raucous home support.
The second leg will go down in West Ham history, but the first leg will always remain with Johnson too.
“I can remember the manager telling us after that first leg in Sevilla that we were only one goal down and the second leg always tells its own story, and it really did. With the benefit of hindsight, going to a team that has won as many Europa League trophies as they have and only being a goal down after the first leg, and still being in the tie, we always felt like we had a chance.
“We knew, heading into the second leg, we had the ability to turn the game around. It was always going to be a difficult challenge for them and our incredible home support would make it tough for them and be a twelfth man for us, which would give us an advantage.
“Momentum is the biggest thing in football, for me, and we certainly got the momentum in the second leg. I’ll always remember the first leg for my own performance, and the kind words from other people, and the second leg will go down in West Ham history.”
