Niklas Fellkrug says West Ham United are fully prepared, both physically and mentally, ahead of their Premier League opener against Sunderland. The striker's number 11 helped West Ham finish runners-up in pre-season after defeating Lille on penalties at the London Stadium.  

The match capped a summer campaign spanning four countries, which also saw West Ham United defeat Grasshoppers Zurich, Everton and Bournemouth, with Niklas Fellkrug finding the net three times. After his debut campaign in east London was cut short by injury, Fellkrug is delighted to have completed pre-season training and can't wait for the real action at the Stadium of Light.  

Niklas Fellkrug said: "I'm incredibly proud of the team. We played well and never gave up. The mentality and spirit of the team were excellent, and all the players who took to the field brought a new energy. I'm very satisfied with the team and our results."  

Niklas Fellkrug scored for the hosts against the four-time Ligue 1 champions, after Olivier Giroud opened the scoring for the visitors, with the game tied 1-1 in regular time.  

Although the Germany international had his penalty saved by Arnaud Bodart in the shootout, Alphonse Areola subsequently made two crucial saves to seal the Hammers' victory, and the number 11 was delighted that his and his team's perseverance had finally paid off.  

He said: "Goal scoring is one of my strengths. If you look back at my goals over the seasons, you will find that nearly half of them came after the 75th minute because that is when I tend to regain my energy."  

“I sometimes get a little frustrated if the game doesn’t go as I expected or as the team aims. Looking back at the second half, we could have scored earlier because we created so many great chances.”  

"We controlled the ball and the tempo very well, the game went the way we wanted, and the coach was very pleased with the team's performance. Although there was an unexpected incident in the 86th or 87th minute, I am still satisfied with the result. Then, through the penalty shootout, we put a perfect end to a difficult pre-season. The match against Lille was also difficult, but I believe the team is ready for the new season, and our performance on Saturday was the best proof."  

With manager Graham Potter preferring a three-man defence and two forwards, Nicklas Fellkrug has spent the summer developing a forward partnership with Jarrod Bowen. He believes the efforts have paid off and that their rapport will continue to improve as they get more playing time.  

"I like Jarrod Bowen very much," said Niklas Fellkrug. "You can probably tell he's a great team player. I try to get the ball to him where he's most comfortable, so he can challenge the defense and come out from behind. I'm sure you saw three or four times we had really good teamwork together. He tried to do the same for me, and when I scored, that play went really well."  

"This is equally important for forwards. As defenders, we are also very aware of this. Letting the defense see our performance is crucial to the team. We actively fought for the ball, defended together, and my teammates also helped me score goals. I admire this captain very much. For us, team spirit is the most important thing, and I think this is also the biggest difference between us and last year."  

"We don't need to focus too much on individual players' goals or assists, like me, Jarrod Bowen or Malik. The key is the overall performance of the team. Everyone played well and that's the atmosphere in the team at the moment."