It’s Lyon deja vu as Bayer Leverkusen have taken to social media to goad West Ham with a video message ahead of the big quarter-final.
West Ham’s Europa League last eight opponents Bayer Leverkusen have every right to be confident.
Going 41 games unbeaten in all competitions will do that to a team.
But there’s a thin line between confidence and arrogance.
And West Ham are not a team to trifle with if you’re bringing the latter to the table.
The Hammers are already incentivised by the prospect of being the slayers of the invincibles.
So it’s probably not a good idea to give David Moyes’ men any extra motivation ahead of the first leg.
Just ask Lyon.
Is goading West Ham a good idea? Ask Lyon
It was at the same stage of the same competition two years ago West Ham met the French side.
After the draw Lyon took to social media boldly stating: ‘Like there’s a chance we won’t go through’.
“I think in the end football comes around, it is a strange thing football, it comes around and you have got to be careful.”
That was the warning from West Ham boss Moyes after Moussa Dembele followed up that post with his now infamous wink when he dived to get Aaron Cresswell sent off in the first leg at the London Stadium.
To say it backfired is an understatement.
West Ham strode into the Europa League semi-finals with a superb 3-0 victory away at Lyon sealing a 4-1 aggregate win.
Declan Rice and Moyes would later admit Lyon’s arrogance fuelled the resounding victory.
Now it seems Bayer Leverkusen might be making the same mistake.
Thin line between arrogance and confidence for Leverkusen
There have already been one or two signs of arrogance from the Germans.
Although their players and Xabi Alonso have made it clear they respect West Ham, they have repeatedly stated they are confident of winning.
It’s Lyon deja vu as Bayer Leverkusen goad West Ham with video message on social media.
The Hammers ironically met Leverkusen back in pre-season. It was the final warm-up game ahead of the new season and West Ham were well beaten 4-0.
West Ham were popped off the park by Leverkusen that day.
And the club has posted a video of the demolition on social media saying: “Ready to cook again!”
Ready to cook? You’re playing with fire
The German champions-elect appear to have been lulled into a false sense of security by that pre-season game.
What they’re failing to remember is West Ham played that match without any of their fantastic four summer signings.
Edson Alvarez, Mohammed Kudus, Konstantinos Mavropanos and James Ward-Prowse all arrived after that game.
West Ham are a completely transformed team since.
You have to be a decent side to maintain a top seven place in the Premier League.
Just days after the Hammers smashed Freiburg 5-0, Leverkusen edged a 3-2 win over them.
Azerbajani side Qarabag scored four goals against Alonso’s men in two last 16 legs. And they came within minutes of knocking Bayer out.
Before West Ham walk out at the BayArena tonight, Moyes could do a lot worse than stick this video on a big screen in the changing room.
“Let’s cook again” – well let’s hope Leverkusen end up getting their fingers burnt.