West Ham will travel to Germany to challenge Werder Bremen in a stand alone cup competition – as part of their pre-season tour of Europe this July.
A statement released earlier today on the Hammers’ official website stated: “West Ham United will visit Germany to take on Werder Bremen in a unique and prestigious two-legged Betway Cup encounter as part of our pre-season preparations for the 2017/18 Premier League campaign.
Slaven Bilic’s men will face the Bundesliga side in back-to-back matches on July 28 and 29, during a 10-day trip that will form the second of two training camps in Europe this summer, with the first taking place in Austria between July 10-21.”
BREAKING NEWS:
We're off to Germany for the @betway Cup! 🏆🇩🇪See you soon, @werderbremen!#COYI pic.twitter.com/pwfw0zC3qm
— West Ham United (@WestHam) June 13, 2017
The aggregate winner of the tie will take home the Betway Cup, courtesy of the Hammers official sponsor, and Slaven Bilic believes the games are good opportunity for the side to gel ahead of the Premier League kick-off in mid-August.
“Playing back-to-back matches in Germany will ensure that the squad can work together at the same level for the vast majority of the time that we are there, and the two training camps will also be important for unity and togetherness.” said Bilic.
“We have a number of players returning from injury at the beginning of pre-season and so it is important that our preparation is exactly right to give us the best opportunity of making the strongest possible start to the new season.”
The last time to two clubs met, the Bundesliga side emerged victorious, winning 2-1 at Upton Park to lift the Betway Cup in one of Slaven Bilic’s first games in charge.
