For one West Ham United player, Tomas Soucek, this match holds even more significance for various reasons.
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West Ham United will take on Fiorentina in the final of the UEFA Europa Conference League on Wednesday. The match will hold massive significance for both clubs. These two sides will be eager to end the season on a high and what better way to do it than win a European trophy. West Ham experienced a roller-coaster campaign in the Premier League, as they have also flirted with relegation at times this season. Hence, to end the campaign by having a chance to lift a European title will make it extra special for them.
For one West Ham United player, Tomas Soucek, this match holds even more significance for various reasons. For starters, the Czech Republic international was a former Slavia Prague midfielder and his home ground was Eden Arena – venue of the Europa Conference League final. Now though Soucek has become an important part of West Ham’s midfield, he will still hope to lift the trophy in Prague, a city he has lived in for many years.
“When I realised a year ago that the UEFA Europa Conference League final was going to be in Prague, I was telling the rest of the squad that we had to be here. It was a big goal for this year and now we are here in Prague, and I can connect together the two teams that I love. This game is the chance to lift the trophy here. We will do everything to do it and, for me, it would be so special to lift the trophy in Prague,” he was quoted as saying by the club’s website.
He added: “Jarrod Bowen and I came to this Club at the same time. It’s been three-and-a-half years and it’s been a good portion of our careers. I played for Slavia Prague for a number of years but this time with West Ham, I will always appreciate it. I know the fans appreciate me and we have a lot of respect between us.”
On Wednesday night, Tomas Soucek could have easily entered the pitch with the opposite team. Soucek revealed that Fiorentina were interested in his signature before he joined West Ham United. “There was interest in me from Fiorentina, just six months before I joined West Ham. But, for me, while I was honoured by that interest and I appreciated it a lot, I was with Slavia Prague and I wanted to play Champions League with them. So I stayed for another six months and then I got the offer from West Ham,” he reminisced.
West Ham United will now hope to continue playing in Europe for a third season running and to do that they have to win the final. “We have played European competitions for two years in a row. We have enjoyed it and we want to do it a third season. But we always want the trophy, the winners’ medals and the chance to make history. The season is up and down. This game can make the season an unbelievable one if we lift the trophy. We really, really want to do it,” he added.
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