Pablo Fornals praised the quality of the Academy of Football as West Ham United made it six wins from six group-stage games following a 3-0 victory over FCSB at National Arena on Thursday evening.
The No8 netted either side of the break as he marked his 150th appearance for the Club in style in Bucharest.
But at the end of his 20th European match for West Ham – no Hammer has played more than the No8 – Fornals was quick to praise the youngsters who made their debuts in Romania.
Ollie Scarles, who became the sixth youngest player in the Club’s history, and Divin Mubama both started against FCSB, while Kaelan Casey and Kamarai Swyer also made their first-team debut from the substitutes’ bench.
“We were already qualified as first in the group, but we showed what made this team successful,” Fornals stated.
“The Academy of Football is supporting the first team with very nice players. I am really happy for the players who had the chance to play. Divin and Ollie both played really well. We saw how Divin celebrated the goal.
“Ollie played a really good game and the guys who the gaffer brought [on as substitutes] did well too. The Academy of Football never stops bringing new and good footballers to English football.”
Fornals struck his first and second goal in European football for the Hammers, showing his class in Bucharest with two well-taken strikes. The first was a left-footed efforts whipped past the FCSB goalkeeper, while the second was equally emphatic – and converted in front of the travelling Claret & Blue Army.
“We came here to do our best,” Fornals added. “We are really happy for all the players who played today – it is important for us to show the manager what we can do.”
