Tomáš Souček was back to his best and delighted to have played his part in West Ham United’s 2-0 Premier League win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
The Czech Republic international produced one of his best performances of the season, alongside his goalscoring display against Tottenham Hotspur at the end of August, to help the Hammers earn a second top-flight victory of the season and climb out of the bottom three.
No West Ham player made more tackles, interceptions or aerial battles than the No28, who covered every blade of the London Stadium pitch with his trademark fitness and stamina.
“I am so happy because we needed this win, especially at home after the bad start to the season, so we are so happy for the three points and how we played,” he told West Ham TV.
“We were determined in every position and is someone lost the ball, the second one won it and when someone went to press and he got there late, the second one was in a good position again and won the ball.
“This is what we needed, and I am so happy with how we won this game. The spirit is back and we need to go on to another game.”
Souček’s performance was summed up by a passage of play in first half stoppage-time, when he held off three Wolves players before winning a free-kick for his side deep inside the visitors’ half, earning a deserved ovation from the Claret and Blue Army.
“I remember because I couldn’t breathe after that! I was very happy that it was in extra-time because in the changing room at half-time I still couldn’t breathe!” he smiled, having got his breath back. “It was good. I wanted to do my maximum as always and I hope I will play the same as the last two years and help the team.
“This is the most important and I will help the team in the opposition box or our box or in the middle, it doesn’t matter, just wherever the team needs me!”
The midfielder has just one Premier League goal to his name this season, and captain Declan Rice has encouraged his partner to get forward more often.
“It’s true that he’s always telling me to ‘go there’ or ‘stay there’, but another time I can tell him he can go and I stay, and that’s the reason we are together, so one can go and one can stay,” Souček observed.
“I hope that I can add a few goals but when we win without my goals, I will also be happy because we are a football team, not individuals.”
While it is a team game, individuals score goals and Souček was delighted to see Gianluca Scamacca open his Premier League account with a rasping shot to put the Irons in front just before the half-hour mark.
“It was a nice goal!” the 27-year-old smiled. “I know that he has scored some goals in the Conference League and now he has scored a similar goal and I am happy he has scored his first goal in the Premier League and I hope he adds many in the future because we need his goals.”
Next up for West Ham is a trip to Belgium to face RSC Anderlecht in the third of six UEFA Europa Conference League Group B ties.
After recording wins over FCSB of Romania and Silkeborg of Denmark on the opening two matchdays, another victory would put David Moyes’ side on the cusp of qualification for the post-Christmas knockout rounds.
But, having been beaten 6-0 on aggregate by Anderlecht in the UEFA Europa League play-off round six years ago while with Slavia Prague, Souček is taking nothing for granted at Lotto Park.
“Every game is so difficult. I played once in Anderlecht and they are a big club, one of the biggest teams in Belgium, and historically they are very good,” he confirmed.
“In the table you can see they have got four points, so it will be a tough game but every game we are working and we want to win and I hope we can do it.
“After this, we will be halfway through the group-stage and have played three games out of six, so we need to carry on and if we win, we’ll be in a good position.”
