Goalkeeper Łukasz Fabiański is hoping to prolong his run of games in 2023/24 by helping West Ham United overturn a one-goal deficit in Thursday night’s UEFA Europa League round of 16 second leg at home to SC Freiburg.
The 38-year-old completed the full 90 minutes in the first instalment of the tie last week, when Michael Gregoritsch’s late strike powered the German Bundesliga outfit to a narrow 1-0 win at the Stadion am Wolfswinkel.
Having largely taken on cup duties since the summer, and so-far made six of his 15 appearances this season in the continental competition, Fabiański is eager to continue on the path towards 200 Hammers outings by progressing to the last eight.
And, after watching on from the bench when David Moyes’ men overcame a similar situation against Sevilla two years ago, the former Poland international is confident such experiences will stand the squad in good stead.
I’ve loved it when the Europa League has returned every time this year, but the stakes are much higher in the knockout rounds and now we’ve got to come from behind, which we’ll be doing our best to do
Things have obviously been a bit different for me this season, playing more in the cups than in the league, and I’m just enjoying every opportunity that’s given to me,” said Fabiański, who has turned out for the Club 191 times in all competitions as it stands, in an interview for Thursday’s Official Programme, which you can buy online here.
“I’ve loved it when the Europa League has returned every time this year, and I’ve enjoyed the challenge of having to keep myself ready and prepared to jump in when called upon.
“We enjoyed a good run in the group stage, including beating Freiburg twice, but the stakes are much higher in the knockout rounds and now we’ve got to come from behind, which we’ll be doing our best to do.”
Among the Irons’ longest-serving players, following his June 2018 arrival from Swansea City, Fabiański has been a huge part of West Ham’s success in recent years, helping the team secure European football, establish themselves on such a stage and then lift the UEFA Europa Conference League trophy last term.
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