In the end, West Ham United dramatically defeated Fiorentina 2-1 with a late winner from Jarrod Bowen to clinch the trophy.
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West Ham United could not have hoped for a better ending to their 2022-23 season than to lift a European trophy. Despite their inconsistent form in the Premier League, which has also seen them flirt with relegation at times, David Moyes’ side have been impressive in the Europa Conference League. In the end, they dramatically defeated Fiorentina 2-1 with a late winner from Jarrod Bowen to clinch the trophy.
The Europa Conference League player of the season is Declan Rice. The West Ham United midfielder has been in brilliant form throughout the campaign. Despite the club’s struggles in the Premier League, Rice played an important role in guaranteeing their safety and was equally crucial in Europe. Sitting in front of the backline, the English international was hardly caught out of position and was a key component to West Ham’s success.
“I don’t even know what to say! It’s just a different level! Genuinely, I’ve been doing interviews with you for six years now and we’ve had ups and we’ve had downs, but this is what you do it for, these nights, these fans. Look how special it is. I’m telling you now, look at them, what a special group of people. It’s incredible and I’m just so happy,” said Declan Rice, quoted by their club’s website, after winning the final over Fiorentina on Thursday night.
Rice was then lost for words, as he tried to praise the contribution made by the supporters in the team’s path to glory this season. “Do you know what? I don’t even know what to say! Those fans have been so good to me, honestly, I’m lost for words. This Club means so much to me. I just try to be myself, but as much as I’m happy for myself, I’m happy for people who have been here for so long, seen it all, taken on negativity, had positive moments… I don’t think it can ever get better than this. It’s just another level,” he explained.
The Europa Conference League team of the season constituted of six West Ham United players, according to the UEFA’s Technical Observer panel. Apart from the winning skipper Declan Rice, there was also a place for their reliable frontman Michail Antonio, Lucas Paqueta, Jarrod Bowen, Alphonse Areola and Nayef Aguerd. The remaining five positions were made up of Fiorentina and Basel players. Losing finalists Fiorentina’s Nicolas Gonzalez, Nikola Milenkovic and Cristiano Biraghi were joined in by Basel players Dan Ndoye and Andy Diouf. In fact, Diouf was named as the tournament’s young player of the season.
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