West Ham: Michail Antonio battle cry as he reminds Hammers of past European comebacks

Michail Antonio is refusing to give up on West Ham's European dream, insisting: We've come back before — and we'll do it again.

His side's hopes of reaching a third successive European final suffered a late blow here in Germany last night, as two goals in the final seven minutes put Bayer Leverkusen firmly in charge of their Europa League quarter-final tie.

It means the Hammers must come from 2-0 down in next week's return leg in London, a monumental ask, given Xabi Alonso men are now unbeaten in 42 matches this season.

"We came here and said that if we lose, we lose by one," Antonio said. "We're 2-0 down, but we can't give up. We've got to believe in ourselves and that we can turn things around.

"We need to get one next week, then you never know, try and take it to extra-time and turn things around. We've done it in the last two seasons and, hopefully, we can do it again."

The Hammers were a goal down to Freiburg at the midway stage of their last-16 tie earlier this season, only to roar back with a 5-0 home win, and have also come from behind to beat Gent and Sevilla in recent campaigns.

Their task next week will be made doubly hard, however, by the absences of Emerson and Lucas Paqueta, both of whom are suspended after yellow cards last night.

"I've put out tweets for the last two years saying, 'It's not over yet'," Antonio added. "Normally, we're 1-0 down, but this time it's two, so I'll have to say it twice!

"We have to believe. In football, it's not over until the final whistle goes. We've got another 90 minutes to go, maybe 120 minutes. We keep going, keep pushing and keep believing."

Last night's defeat places even greater importance on Sunday's home meeting against Fulham, as the Premier League now looks the Hammers' most likely route back into Europe next season.

David Moyes's side are seventh in the table, but are conceding games in hand to each of their rivals and face a tricky run-in, with Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea all still to play.

"If we can't get into the semis and into the final to guarantee ourselves back into Europe next year, then obviously the Premier League is another way," Antonio said. "We don't want to give up on Europe. We constantly want to be in it, that's another step for us.

"The Premier League is as important as playing in this quarter-final this week."