West Ham will find out their Europa League last-16 opponent at 11am on Friday morning and Tomas Soucek already knows who he wants to face.
The Hammers won the right to avoid a tricky play-off round against one of the eight third-placed Champions League teams courtesy of topping their Europa League group, and have had the luxury of watching the first knockout stage safe in the knowledge their last-16 spot is secure.
With the play-off first legs completed there is a slight indication of who might progress to the last-16, albeit with a number of ties still finely balanced ahead of Thursday's return legs.
Soucek, along with his West Ham teammates has been following the competition and revealed he is hoping for a Battle of Britain in the last-16.
"I’m looking forward to the draw, because I’ve been watching the games in the round before us. Teams still have their second legs on Thursday, so I’ll watch them, and also I will watch the draw if it’s possible.
"I’ve thought about a few teams I would like to play against, and if I could say one, it would be Rangers, because I want to play against them as a big rival," he told the club website.
"It could be a really good game for teams from England against Scotland, big rivals! It would be a really exciting game for the fans and also for us.
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"This team could be good, but everyone we could draw at this stage of the competition will be difficult to face because they have had to win many games to go through. Let’s see – I look forward to it!"
Fortunately for Soucek he does not have long to wait to find out who his team face, with the draw set to take place on Friday morning and football.london will be running a live blog so you can find out the Hammers opponents the minute they come out of the hat.
As group winners, West Ham already know that the first leg will be away from home on March 10 and the second leg will take place at the London Stadium on March 17th in what is sure to be a special occasion for all involved.
