Few managers can boast the longevity of SC Freiburg's Christian Streich.
The 58-year-old is in the middle of his 13th season in charge of the Breisgau Brazilians, having also played for the club in the 1980s.
Freiburg have enjoyed unparalleled success under Streich's reign, enjoying five top-half Bundesliga finishes and reaching the UEFA Europa League round of 16 for the first time last season.
Now, as he brings his team to east London for Thursday night's UEFA Europa League Group A finale, Streich has his eyes on matching that at least, with the team that finishes top of the pile heading directly to the round of 16.
West Ham need a point to achieve that, while Freiburg need victory, and Streich says his team will be motivated for that eventuality.
"The team that loses tomorrow - or if we draw - will go to the play-off round, whereas the winner would reach the round of 16," he said.
"It's a big difference, because if you're in the round of 16 and you win the next two games, you're in the quarter-finals. Otherwise you have to win two games [just] to reach the round of 16.
"We have never reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League, so that would be the biggest success at an international level for us.
"That's why we want to win the group, but that's why West Ham also want to win the group."
The Hammers defeated Freiburg 2-1 when the two teams met in October, when Lucas Paquetá capped a fast start by giving the visitors an early lead.
Streich is aware his side will need to head out of the traps better at London Stadium if they are to claim the result they crave.
"At home against West Ham we didn’t show enough courage [early on]," he explained. "The way we played through the lines wasn't good enough, maybe we were a bit nervous.
"Then the second half was really good and on Thursday we want to start differently. We want to be brave, pass out from the back better, reach the second and third zone of the pitch and really face up to West Ham.
"I’m sure West Ham will want to press us aggressively at home and try to score early on.
"So right from the start we have to make sure we are up for that. I think our team has got a lot of confidence because we have got good results in the Bundesliga and now we are here in London in European competitive and that is really special.
"We are capable of playing a really good game and to meet West Ham at the same level."
