Coufal has even promised to treat his team-mates to a famous Czech beer or two if they go on and lift the trophy. If the final goes the distance Fabianski could be summoned from the bench and have a big part to play in this competition after all.įull-back Vladimir Coufal and midfielder Tomas Soucek have had their sights set on reaching the final ever since the venue was confirmed the Fortuna Arena is the home of their former club, Slavia Prague. Areola, by contrast, dived the wrong way for eight consecutive penalties when West Ham lost an FA Cup shootout to Blackburn in November. But if the match goes to penalties Moyes will have a big decision to make.įabianski has an excellent spot-kick record - he has saved 11 in the Premier League alone. Moyes is set to start with cup goalkeeper Alphonse Areola despite Lukasz Fabianski being the club's number one. I've always said the best years are still to come and I'm certainly enjoying the moment and being here." "It's great to be sitting here in a European final, for any manager it's a thrill, one of the pinnacles you can get in football as a coach," he added. There is a growing narrative that were he to achieve it the Scot, who turned 60 this year, could be forgiven for deciding to leave the club on a high, especially given their struggles in the Premier League this season which, at times, he admitted, left him close to the sack.īut speaking on Tuesday, he categorically denied suggestions that he could step down after the final, regardless of the result. Moyes could become only the third West Ham manager to guide them to silverware, following in the fabled footsteps of Ron Greenwood and John Lyall. Moyes admits the crowd trouble that followed their semi-final win against AZ Alkmaar took the attention away from his players and what they had achieved The 'West Ham way' has been a source of ridicule in the club's lesser moments but he embodies it in his manner - just as Mark Noble did before him - and also in his ability to mix fight with composure.
Rice was present two years ago at the unveiling of the Olympic Park statue commemorating that legendary West Ham trio, and would be in line for one of his own if he and his team can add to the all-too-slim honours board at the London Stadium on Wednesday night. He has led his side on the pitch as well as off it en route to Prague and few would begrudge him a move of the kind that has been talked about this summer, with Champions League incumbents Bayern Munich and Arsenal at the front of the queue. It is easy to forget the affable, confident skipper who never shies away from fronting up for his team-mates only turned 24 in January. Rice has risen through the ranks like few others in recent years to write himself into club folklore. If the potentially-departing Declan Rice's final chapter of his West Ham legacy were to lift a European trophy for his boyhood club, it would be a fitting end for one of east London's favourite sons. Moyes praises the season Declan Rice has had and says he ranks among some of the best players he has coached in his career
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