Tomáš Souček was eager to ensure the plaudits and praise were rightly spread across the entire West Ham United team after Thursday’s 4-1 UEFA Europa Conference League win against KAA Gent.
Every Hammer played their part in a sensational quarter-final second-leg performance at London Stadium as Michail Antonio’s double, Paquetá’s penalty and Declan Rice’s Goal of the Season contender fired the Irons into a second consecutive European semi-final.
Hugo Cuypers’ strike from eight yards opened the scoring at London Stadium and had led to a few nerves among the Claret and Blue Army, with the tie finely poised at 1-1 from the first leg, but the home side stepped into another gear to earn a place in the last four with a 5-2 aggregate performance.
“I’m so delighted for our performance,” Souček told West Ham TV. “It wasn’t easy, especially because we conceded first, which was not great. But we did great and we got the goal.
“We scored before half-time and then, after half-time, it was in our hands. I have to say everyone played their part in this great performance.”
Souček’s strike just moments into the second half was agonisingly close to giving West Ham the advantage on Thursday evening, only for the Czech Republic midfielder’s fierce effort to bounce back off the woodwork.
While the 28-year-old was disappointed not to get on the scoresheet, the goalscoring proficiency of his teammates secured passage to the semi-finals.
“I should have scored!” he laughed, ruefully. “But, although I tried, I hit the post. Mickey also hit the post two minutes later but we were on it.
“We created chances and we had the ball at our feet. We just had to be patient. We knew it was coming. After the penalty, we scored another and another, and we got a 4-1 win on the night.
“We should score from big chances, especially my one, but I was glad in the end that we didn’t need it.”
With 41 appearances in all competitions this season, Souček is one of manager Moyes’ most trusted squad members; a role the midfielder is greatly appreciative of.
With a last-four date to look forward to against AZ Alkmaar, the No28 is hoping to go even further in Europe than last year’s highly impressive UEFA Europa League run.
“[The manager] trusts us and we try to give back to him on the pitch. We appreciate it because it’s massive for us. We’ve played for him in the last few years and it’s our second year in a European semi-final.
“I still remember and think about our last semi-final. I’m still disappointed because, up until that semi-final, we had done very well. I trust we are all on it and we will go for the final.”
Should the Hammers progress past Alkmaar, the final of the UEFA Europa Conference League will be played in Prague, and Souček is eagerly targeting a chance to lift silverware in his home nation.
“My goal and my aim this season is to get to Prague,” he concluded. “I would really like to do it.
“I want to lift a trophy for West Ham, first and foremost, but second would be doing it in Prague. It is my massive goal and I will do everything I can to be there.”
