For Maxwel Cornet, lifting the UEFA Europa Conference League trophy in Prague on 7 June would be the perfect end to the most challenging year of his career.
After suffering the pain of relegation from the Premier League with Burnley last season, Cornet joined West Ham United last August with the aim of enjoying a more successful time with his second English club.
The Ivory Coast – nicknamed The Elephants – international winger initially did just that, registering five assists in four UEFA Europa Conference League ties and scoring a dramatic late Premier League equaliser at Chelsea that was wrongly disallowed, only for misfortune to strike on his first Premier League start in Claret and Blue.
Initially, it appeared a kick from Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Daniel Podence would only rule Cornet out for a few weeks, but further examination revealed a complex issue with the soleus muscle in the calf that would ultimately keep the 26-year-old off the pitch for five months.
Now, though, the No14 is back in action and with his lightning pace and extensive UEFA Champions League and Europa League experience with Olympique Lyonnais, he could play a big part for West Ham over the closing weeks of what has been, for player and Club, a frustrating, stop-start 2022/23 season – a season that could yet end with a major European trophy.
“The Conference League is important,” he confirmed, speaking ahead of the Hammers’ UECL quarter-final first-leg tie away to Belgian Cup holders KAA Gent on Thursday evening. “You can’t underestimate this competition, it’s an important competition, for us the players, for the Club and the coach too. So, in every game in this tournament, we will give 100 per cent.
“European experience is really important for this kind of game because it’s a high level and we know we want to do something in this competition, so we all have to be focused on this goal.
“European football is different, but you have the same goal. To win a trophy for the Club can be the best thing for me for my first season. It was not a season for me with my injury, but now I am back and I want to do everything to go to the final and win this trophy.”
You can watch Thursday’s tie live on TV in the UK on BT Sport 2, and around the world with UEFA’s international broadcast partners, with kick-off at 5.45pm BST (6.45pm CEST).
