You were spoiled for choice this season.
Was it to be the night the Irons dazzled London Stadium upon the return of capacity crowds, outfoxing Leicester City 4-1, or the impressive collective effort mustered to win out on penalties and become the first team to eliminate Manchester City from the Carabao Cup in some 1,827 days?
Would it be the electrifying counter-attacking display which inflicted a first defeat of the season on Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool, or the never-say-die spirit which saw the Irons twice come from behind to overcome Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea – both wins by 3-2 scorelines?
Would the award go to the team performance which reciprocated arguably the greatest atmosphere at London Stadium to date: a UEFA Europa League triumph against competition favourites Sevilla, a 2-1 win on aggregate after extra-time?
In the end, the supporters voted for a West Ham United showing for the ages to be their Best Team Performance at the 2021/22 Betway Player Awards.
The Hammers’ first major European quarter-final in 41 years looked a tough assignment against an Olympique Lyonnais team who had reached the Champions League semi-finals two seasons prior.
That was particularly the case after a tricky first leg, in which David Moyes’ men played the entire second half with a man less, ended in a 1-1 draw in east London.
But on a magical, unforgettable night at Parc Olympique Lyonnais in mid-April 2022, West Ham United were faultless to a man.
European quarter-finals aren’t meant to be easy – and down on the grass, where Hammers players, staff and supporters left everything out on the pitch, it by no means was.
Yet thanks to two goals just before half-time from Craig Dawson and Declan Rice, and another beautifully worked counter-attack which led to Jarrod Bowen scoring shortly after the restart, the Irons found themselves on course for a 4-1 aggregate victory in Europe, playing out a comfortable second half.
The scenes which greeted the performance afterwards said it all: this was a showing to savour.
Tomáš Souček, who collected the award on behalf of the squad alongside Pablo Fornals, reflected: “We all enjoyed it because I remember this performance, but we’ve had many great performances as well.
“I’m speaking about the Liverpool game, the Chelsea game, and many of them, because this season has been amazing again after last season, and I am so happy that I am part of this great, amazing squad.”
The Czech midfielder contributed to the performance with a typically all-action display, covering every blade of grass, and laughed: “Many people tell me I am crazy for my running stats, but it’s part of my game and I like it!
“Also, on the next day, all of the guys were resting and I was still running, but I like it so it’s part of my football style because I like to play in this style. I just hope that I will carry on like I’m used to!”
Fornals, who recorded the assists for both Dawson's opening goal that night and Bowen’s clincher, reflected on his team’s displays this year: “I think we have had many good games this season, most of them at home.
“This is what people expect when they come to our Stadium. We are a team who press the other team, it doesn’t matter who the other team are.
“I think we did it many times against many good teams from Europe or in the league, so I couldn’t pick just one!”
