- West Ham play Leeds United in the FA Cup quarter finals tomorrow at 4:30PM BST
- Jarrod Bowen is available after two appearances for England
- The Hammers hope to book a trip to Wembley
West Ham United host Leeds United in the FA Cup quarter finals tomorrow afternoon. The winner would head to Wembley in the next round and gain some much needed momentum with the Premier League returns in the following week.
Jarrod Bowen, fresh off the final England camp of the season, has told the club’s official website just how big of an opportunity this is.
“We’re into April, but there is a lot to play for, both in Sunday’s quarter-final and in the Premier League as well,” he said. “We can really turn what’s been an underwhelming season into a really special one in the last seven league games and three potential FA Cup games we’ve still got to play.
“It’s proper business time, with no other breaks between now and the end of the season. It’s good to be back and we’ve been working hard the last few days at Rush Green to be ready to go.
“A Wembley trip for everyone associated with this Club would be incredible. This is the FA Cup, the competition we all grew up watching and dreaming of winning, and a win today would take us to the national stadium, so it’s a big opportunity, a big moment, and one I’m really looking forward to.
“You will all be up for it and will be right behind us and Leeds are going to bring a lot of fans, so it’s going to be a good set-up for a great game. Now we just have to go and do it.”
West Ham can’t underestimate anyone
Like West Ham, Leeds United’s main goal is to stay in the Premier League this season. Daniel Farke’s men were the victors the last time the two teams met but have since gone on a poor run of form that has dragged them back into the relegation fight.
Bowen knows that to progress, Nuno Espirito Santo’s team cannot afford to underestimate any side.
“We can’t underestimate Leeds,” he observed. “They’re a good side, a disciplined side, a physical side. They’ve had some good results against top teams and have drawn against Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Aston Villa in the Premier League this year. They’ve also got through to an FA Cup quarter-final like us, so they’re a side you can’t disrespect in any way.
“As a club, they’ve got a similar fanbase to us – loyal, passionate – who will want a day out at Wembley, too, so they’re going to be right up for it, and we have to match that and be better than them in every single sense.
“We can only affect the future and, from all the work that we’ve done, I feel like we’re in a good place as a group, feel good on the pitch, and we have to keep doing that because there is no let-up between now and the end of the season.
“Let’s give everything we have on Sunday afternoon, on the pitch and from the stands, and get this great Club to an FA Cup semi-final.”
