Arnautovic scores and Hart debuts but Werder win Betway Cup
WHUFC.com
On-loan Premier League striker Yuning Zhang scored the vital goal as Werder
Bremen again edged West Ham United to lift the Betway Cup.
Zhang, who has joined the Bundesliga club from West Bromwich Albion, struck
the vital goal with just nine minutes remaining to secure Werder a 3-2
aggregate win in the German town of Lohne.
Earlier, goals from full debutant Marko Arnautovic and Toni Martinez had
dragged Slaven Bilic's side back from two goals down after Luca Caldirola's
powerful header had doubled Bremen's aggregate advantage on 15 minutes.
However, just when it looked like the Betway Cup might be decided by a
penalty shootout, Swedish wing-back Ludwig Augustinsson cut the ball back
and Zhang expertly steered his finish beyond the grasp of Joe Hart.
Having lost Friday's first leg 1-0 in Schneverdingen, Slaven Bilic's side
dominated almost the entire opening half, but fell behind to Italian
defender Caldirola's towering header.
Eleven minutes later, summer signing Arnautovic reacted quickest to poke
Arthur Masuaku's deflected cross past Czech goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka, with
the combinations between the summer signing and French full-back a highlight
of West Ham's performance.
The Austrian's goal was no more than the Premier League side deserved for
their showing in front of a colourful crowd at the Heinz-Dettmer-Stadion.
Indeed, debutant Hart touched the ball just FOUR times in the opening period
– twice to clear up field and once to pick the ball out of the net after
Caldirola nodded Florian Kainz's disputed free-kick into the top corner.
That proved to be Bremen's only goal attempt in the entire half, with West
Ham, in contrast, unleashing four shots, including Arnautovic's leveller.
The former Stoke City man had already gone close, unleashing a rasping
angled drive that Pavlenka could only palm high into the air. Robert
Snodgrass reacted quickest, but the angle was tight and he headed the ball
into the side netting.
The improved display was perhaps to be expected when you consider Bilic
named a team including eight senior internationals, including the
experienced Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Jose Fonte, Angelo Ogbonna and Andre Ayew.
Werder also named a more experienced starting XI, with four of the team
which started at Borussia Dortmund on the final day of the last Bundesliga
season included – Danish midfielder Thomas Delaney, Germany internationals
Max Kruse and Fin Bartels and Senegal centre-half Ludovic Sane – alongside
recent arrivals Pavlenka, Augustinsson and Zhang.
Bremen boss Alexander Nouri left his seniors on for the entire 90 minutes,
but Bilic again opted to make multiple changes on the hour-mark, and it was
one of his substitutes who put the Hammers ahead on the day.
Ayew found himself in space wide on the left touchline before digging out a
curling cross the Martinez expertly guided into the far corner with a
well-placed header.
With a number of youngsters now on the pitch, West Ham continued to hold
their own, with Edimilson Fernandes rattling the base of the post with a
well-struck long-range drive, only for Zhang to have the final say.
Indeed, the Hammers finished strongly and had an Ayew goal disallowed before
the exciting Nathan Holland tested Pavlenka with his team's final shot of
the tie.
So, two years after winning the Betway Cup with a 2-1 win at the Boleyn
Ground, Werder repeated the feat with another narrow victory on home soil.
Werder Bremen: Pavlenka, Caldirola, Sane, Bauer, Augustinsson, Delaney,
M.Eggestein, Bartels, Kainz, Kruse, Zhang
West Ham United: Hart, Zabaleta (Byram 60), Fonte (Burke 60), Ogbonna
(Collins 60), Masuaku (Cresswell 60), Obiang © (Rice 60), Cullen (Makasi
60), Fernandes (Holland 60), Arnautovic, Snodgrass (Martinez 60), Ayew
Sub not used: Adrian (GK)
Attendance: 3,646
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Bilic: We are looking sharp for this stage of pre-season
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic says his West Ham United side showed glimpses of Premier League
quality in Saturday's 2-2 Betway Cup draw with Werder Bremen in Germany.
The Hammers came from behind to lead in Lohne, with well-taken goals from
full debutant Marko Arnautovic and young striker Toni Martinez, only for a
late equaliser to secure the trophy for the Bundesliga side.
Manager Bilic told whufc.com he was pleased with many aspects of their
performance, but knows they will need to iron out the mistakes by the time
they head to Old Trafford on 13 August.
"It was a good game of football and exactly what we wanted and what we
needed and we played really good," he began. "We came out with a stronger
side than last time in the first half as we wanted to mix it and to be fair
they also played with a very strong side.
"We were missing a few players who we didn't want to risk and I'm really
pleased with the way we played. We played really good against a much better
opponent but we didn't win, which is a shame.
"Also, in the second half when the 'kids' came on, they continued to play
really good, they were dangerous up front and we scored the goal, we hit the
post and then it's a shame we couldn't capitalise on that because at the end
of the day we deserved to win, which is really good."
It was a good game of football and exactly what we wanted and what we needed
and we played really good
Slaven Bilic
The boss was particularly pleased with the combinations between his three
summer signings and the established members of his squad, but knows his team
will need to be even more creative and even more ruthless when the
top-flight campaign kicks-off.
"That's why we got them, to be honest, because they are good players," he
continued. "They know the league and they are top players so that's what we
expect from them. OK, they are going to need time to gel with our old
players but it was very, very promising.
"For this stage of the pre-season we are sharp, especially in the first
half, but also in the second half. We switched the sides really well,
especially through our back four and one in the middle, usually through
Pedro Obiang.
"We were dangerous down the sides so we got them tired by switching the side
two times, then on the third time we had space on the side to be
one-against-one or to make a cross. Our crosses were not the best and we
have to improve on them, but from one of those crosses we scored a goal.
"So the patterns, energy and understanding are there, but we just have to
show a bit more quality with the last touch or the key ball. We also have to
stop making mistakes because, in the first half especially, we lost three or
four balls in areas you cannot really afford to lose them."
Goalscorer Arnautovic unsurprisingly won praise from his new manager, not
only for his goal but for his overall contribution, which included the
Austrian's trademark strength and ability to deliver quality in the final
third.
"It was important for him in that he made the difference today," the
Croatian confirmed. "At the end of the day, I hope and am sure that this was
just the beginning.
"This was one of the reasons why we bought him and we have to help him, of
course, but I'm expecting him to make the difference week-in, week-out."
Bilic has given his squad a rare day off on Sunday before they return to
training in Rotenburg ahead of Tuesday's visit to Hamburg to take on Altona
93.
West Ham complete their pre-season schedule with a prestige Super Match
meeting with Manchester City in the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik, on Friday
4 August.
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Arnautovic delighted to mark full West Ham debut with goal
WHUFC.com
Marko Arnautovic was pleased to get off the mark in a Claret and Blue shirt
after scoring in West Ham United's 2-2 Betway Cup second leg draw with
Werder Bremen.
The Hammers' Club-record signing was on target against his former employers
in the German town of Lohne, reacting quickest to poke Arthur Masuaku's
cross into the net. Toni Martinez then put West Ham in front, only for
Yuning Zhang's late strike to secure a 3-2 aggregate victory and the trophy
for the Bundesliga side following Friday's 1-0 defeat in Schneverdingen.
Arnautovic was naturally pleased with his goal, but tellingly prouder of his
team's second, which came at the end of a superb pitch-length move which
culminated in Andre Ayew's pinpoint cross and Martinez's clinical header.
We are really thankful to the fans who have come out to support us in
Germany and of course we will need them the whole season, because you never
know how the season goes
First of all, it was very good that I played the full 90 minutes," he began.
"In the first half, I think we showed that we dominated the game a lot and
Werder Bremen were sitting back waiting for the counter-attack.
"In my opinion, we have to create more chances because the chances we did
have were very good. Of course, I'm very happy with the goal but for me
personally, our second goal was amazing, how we played this out and the
finishing.
"We are very pleased for this and now we keep going and we have another ten
days until the Premier League starts."
Speaking to whufc.com in front of two sets of fans, one of whom adored him
and the other will surely do likewise if he continues in this vein,
Arnautovic said the warm welcome he has been given by everyone associated
with the Club has made settling in a simple task.
"It was a very perfect welcome," he confirmed. "The boys took me great and
all of them, the staff and the players, have been amazing.
"We are really thankful to the fans who have come out to support us in
Germany and of course we will need them the whole season, because you never
know how the season goes.
"We will give everything and we hope that the fans also give everything and
we will see how we finish."
The Austria star and his new teammates will enjoy a rare day off before
returning to training on Monday ahead of a visit to Hamburg to take on
Altona 93 on Tuesday evening.
West Ham complete their pre-season schedule with a prestige Super Match
meeting with Manchester City in the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik, on Friday
4 August.
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West Ham's Andy Carroll to miss the first month of the season as he recovers
from thigh injury
The Hammers had hoped to be without the powerful but brittle frontman for
only their opening two games
The Mirror
BYSTEVE STAMMERS
22:30, 29 JUL 2017
West Ham will be without striker Andy Carroll for the first three matches of
the season. Carroll missed the end of the last league campaign with a thigh
problem.
And he will not be ready for first-team action until the end of the
international break in September. Carroll is scheduled to make his return in
West Ham's first home game against Premier League newcomers Huddersfield.
Manager Slaven Bilic had hoped the 28-year-old would be fit for the third
match at Newcastle after missing the first two clashes at Manchester United
and Southampton. But he has been told the risk would be too great and the
match on September 11 is a more realistic target. The injury news is more
encouraging about skipper Mark Noble. He limped off with a toe injury in the
1-0 pre-season defeat to Werder Bremen on Friday night. But he should be fit
within a week. In Carroll's absence, record signing Marko Arnautovic grabbed
his first goal on Saturday since arriving from Stoke in a £25million deal.
The Austria forward poked home the opening goal in a 2-2 draw in their
second match with Bremen. Toni Martinez got the other Hammers goal, with
Luca Caldirola and Yuning Zhang replying for Bremen, who won the Betway Cup
3-2 on aggregate.
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