For Vladimír Coufal, the final home game of the 2022/23 season could not have gone much better.
West Ham United concluded the 2022/23 home campaign with a deserved 3-1 comeback win over Leeds United, as Declan Rice, Jarrod Bowen and Manuel Lanzini struck to secure all three points.
It was a result the performance more than warranted against a Leeds side that took the lead through Spaniard Rodrigo’s first-half volley, and the celebrations shared with the Claret and Blue Army after the final whistle showed the home supporters agreed.
London Stadium remained packed to the rafters as Coufal and his teammates showed their appreciation with a lap of the pitch after the match, and, speaking to West Ham TV, the defender expressed his own thanks to the fans.
“It was the perfect last home game,” he said. “I want to say thank you to all the fans who came to this game to support us. It was perfect. I really enjoyed it and I believe the whole team has the same feeling, It was incredible and we want more games like this.
“We gave the fans a good victory, I think. We played a good game and I hope the fans enjoyed it. And we’re already excited to see them back here at London Stadium next season."
Coufal, in playing the full 90 minutes in the win over Leeds, returned to action after a short spell out with injury, having picked up the hamstring muscle issue away to Manchester City at the start of the month.
The 30-year-old was thrilled to get back out on the pitch and help the Irons claim all three points.
He continued: “Everyone knows I got injured in the Manchester City game. I’m not sure why, because I’ve never had a problem with the muscle.
“It came in a bad moment but I have to say I worked really hard with our physio team. It was very intense but it proved fruitful. I’m back now and I’m ready to fight again.”
West Ham now prepare for a final two games in a lengthy 2022/23 season. The Premier League campaign will conclude away to Leicester City next weekend before the small matter of the UEFA Europa Conference League final in Prague, against Italian side ACF Fiorentina.
Coufal is already eagerly anticipating travelling to his home country to play in a major European final in Czechia on Wednesday 7 June.
He added: “I was really struggling with the Alkmaar game (the 1-0 semi-final second-leg victory last Thursday evening in the Netherlands). I was on the bench and I don’t mind saying I was frustrated and I couldn’t just sit. I had to be doing the warm-up for 90 minutes and I felt more tired than if I had played!
“The guys handled the game in a really good way and we’re in the final now! And I would like to invite every West Ham fan, who is able to able to buy a flight [and a match ticket], to Prague. Prague is beautiful and hopefully we can win and celebrate together in Prague!”
