West Ham United U21s v PSV Eindhoven U21s
Premier League International Cup, Chigwell Construction Stadium, Tuesday 9 April, 7pm BST
West Ham United U21s seek a Premier League International Cup final spot for the first time in the Club’s history when they host PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday evening.
The young Hammers reached the semi-final stage of the tournament with a 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion but will have to beat the defending champions to move a step closer to lifting the trophy.
Read on for our full preview below...
How To Follow...
While Tuesday’s fixture will not be live-streamed, you can follow the fixture through a live blog on the Club’s website and app, while a match report and reaction will follow shortly after the full-time whistle.
Tickets...
The fixture is free for Season Ticket Holders to attend.
Tickets are also available to buy from the turnstiles. Under-18 tickets are priced at £1, while Adult tickets cost £5.
The Premier League International Cup Explained...
The Premier League International Cup features 12 of England's best Academy sides against 12 of the top development squads from the rest of Europe, split into three groups of eight.
The top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed teams advanced to the quarter-finals, where West Ham United, Crystal Palace, Everton and PSV won their ties to reach the last four.
Once again, the knockout ties are decided in one-off matches, with extra time and then penalties required if the match is level after 90 minutes.
You can read more about the tournament HERE.
Coach’s View…
Without question, PSV will be one of the most difficult challenges for our U21s to overcome this season.
The defending champions are an impressive force having defeated Chelsea in the last eight to reach this campaign’s semi-finals.
Such challenges are important for a talented group of Hammers who are looking to push for senior experiences, and Steve Potts believes his side will relish the chance to go toe to toe with some of the best young talent on the continent.
The lead coach explained: “It is a case of finishing the season well now because the group have done a good job up until now.
“But this is the sort of time in the season that can define it because we have the league knockouts and also Tuesday’s semi-final.
“Last year they were exceptional against us and we had a tough night. I expect them to be a similar level of opposition this year.
“It’s the draw we wanted though because it is a great game for the boys to go up against top European academy players.”
Player’s Perspective…
One player who will be hoping to play his part on Tuesday evening is Sean Tarima, a defender who has shown his quality in recent PL2 wins.
The centre-half, who is also capable of playing in midfield, featured for most of the recent win over Brighton & Hove Albion, replacing Levi Laing in the first half, and having also played the full 90 minutes against Derby County on Friday night, is looking to continue a good run of form on Tuesday.
He explained: “Derby was decent for us, and we had to put in a shift because they were a good side, but we stuck together and got the win.
“There are more games to finish the season so hopefully I can keep my place in the team, prove myself and get more minutes.
“My role [on the right side of a back three] is not an easier one but it’s an enjoyable one because you are tested in and out of possession.”
On his aims for the rest of the season, Tarima added: “As a team, we want to get through the PSV game and reach a final, but as an individual between now and the end of the season I want to keep playing well and consistently.”
Opposition…
Following last year’s triumph in the competition, PSV have again impressed in the 2023/24 edition.
The Dutch side finished second in Group A before coming from behind to win 2-1 at Chelsea in the last eight to set up a semi-final clash with the Irons.
They seek a place in a final and a shot at a successive title after they defeated Crystal Palace in last season's final.
The two sides met in the competition’s group stages last year where a young West Ham United side fell to a 5-0 defeat.
Story So Far…
West Ham United U21s beat Celtic, Valencia and GNK Dinamo Zagreb - and took a point against Olympique Lyonnais - to reach the knockout stages of the PL International Cup with ten points from their four group-stage games.
The Hammers have also kept three clean sheets across those four matches, conceding just once in the 1-1 draw with Lyon.
Their quarter-final tie – against Brighton & Hove Albion – saw Steve Potts’ side progress to the last four with a 2-1 win following goals from Ollie Scarles and Lewis Orford.
