The Senegal global was left with an easy finish as the Hammers got life at their new home off to the flawless start; with a 3-0 win over NK Domzale (4-2 on aggregate) to book their place in the Europa League playoffs.
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In the first competitive match at their new home, Slaven Bilic’s side stormed into a two-goal lead courtesy of a Cheikhou Kouyate brace as they dominated the third qualifying round, second-leg clash, having lost the first leg 2-1 in Slovenia a week ago.
“I’m aware of that, some teams don’t struggle but need time to adjust, ” Bilic said when asked about the problems about relocating. Nearly exactly four years to the day that the Games started, West Ham played their first game in the imaginatively named “London Stadium”.
West Ham bid £3 million for Olsson earlier in the transfer window, and were reportedly set to follow this up with another bid of £4 million.
France midfielder Dimitri Payet, Wales defender James Collins and Italy defender Angelo Ogbonna are not yet available for West Ham after their involvement at Euro 2016.
He said “It was hard psychologically for us but for the stage we are at we played really well”.
As housewarming parties go, West Ham United could not have wished for a better introduction to life in their shiny new Stratford home.
Sofiane Feghouli and Enner Valencia both spurned good chances after the break to safeguard the victory, and Matic Crnic – who scored both goals in the first leg – twice came close to snatching the away goal Domzale needed to force extra-time.
“It was more than I expected, It was loud and there no point comparing it to Upton Park, you can’t”.
“Of course, coming from Germany to England I’m still trying to adapt to the football a little bit but so far, so good”.
Filip Ozobic scored the only goal of the game 11 minutes before half-time to send the Ligue 1 side crashing out of European competition and see Qabala into the play-offs, where they will join compatriots Qarabag.
“We will hopefully have a minimum of five players added to the squad before the start of the Premier League”. “We don’t have a mountain to climb, but a job to do”.
West Ham had £3m and £4m bids turned down from Norwich City for the Swedish left-back Martin Olsson, and it appears that Bilic will end the pursuit of the 28-year-old and move on to a loan deal for Davide Santon instead.
“Even before Cresswell got in-jured, we were looking to streng-then at left-back”, he said.
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However Bilic, who confirmed that Diafra Sakho’s move to West Bromwich Albion collapsed after the striker failed a medical, was quietly encouraged.
