Phil Kruger: I didn t plan to leave West Ham, I did not perform well in the first season because I didn t have enough rest

May 11th West Ham forward Phil Kruger recently accepted an interview with "Kickers". Although his first season in the Hammers was a disaster, he said he had no intention of leaving West Ham.

Last summer, Phil Kruger transferred from Dortmund for 30 million euros, after he helped the Hornets reach the Champions League final as the core of the previous season. However, frequent injuries have allowed him to only get 21% of his playing time in the Premier League, and he has played only 15 games in the league, contributing 3 goals and 2 assists.

He said: "I joined West Ham at the age of 32 to use this place as a springboard. Of course, players always have to take risks before transfer. For example, the club has not yet reached the expected level. We and West Ham should appear in the European arena, but I believe that the existing conditions are enough to achieve the goal, and I will do my best. "

"I never thought of leaving West Ham, and I will not have such a thought now. I currently enjoy this job very much. This challenge is just what I want to join a club that has not yet reached its ideal level."

For this striker, injuries have left the past year dull. He played 46 games for Dortmund, a total of 3,305 minutes, and represented the German team in 5 European Cup 2024. He believes that this directly led to his only 755 minutes in his first season at West Ham.

"After playing 58 official games, I only have one week to prepare for the European Cup," he explained. "Then the Premier League started, and the first three games were bad."

"It is no accident that so many muscle injuries this season, and young players are not spared. My thigh injury actually does not meet the conventional characteristics. Before, it was an Achilles tendon problem, and I only have six weeks to be healthy. This is unpredictable, and I am indeed not lucky, for example, it was a pure sneaker problem."