West Ham United's German technical director Tim Steidten has named his former club Bayer Leverkusen favourites for their upcoming Europa League quarter-final tie.
The first leg match in Germany is on Thursday, and the return leg in London a week later.
In-between, Leverkusen can clinch a first-ever Bundesliga title in their bid for a title treble, having also reached the German Cup final as part of their season-long unbeaten run of 41 matches.
Last year's Conference League champions West Ham sit seventh in the Premier League. They knocked out another German club, Freiburg, in the Europa League last 16.
"We will give our all and a lot can happen over two matches. But they are ahead of us when you look at the squad," Steidten told dpa.
"At the draw I thought, please not against Leverkusen and Liverpool. I would have preferred to meet those two in the final."
Steidten was in Leverkusen as scouting chief and general manager manager sport from 2019 until joining the Hammers last summer.
He was involved in the transfers of players including Florian Wirtz, Edmond Tapsoba, Robert Andrich and Jeremie Frimpong to Leverkusen.
He said he does not regret having left last year, given Leverkusen's stunning run this term.
"Not at all. I am proud that I was able to play a part in what's happening right now," he said.