Moyes names Conference Final team

Moyes names Conference Final team

David Moyes has made two two changes from the team which beat AZ Alkmaar three weeks ago to secure the Irons’ place in their first major European final in 47 years.

Full-backs Vladimír Coufal and Emersoncome into the side, with the Czech Republic international taking his place at right-back on home turf at the stadium he called home for two seasons with SK Slavia Prague.

The 30-year-old is joined in the starting XI by compatriot, fellow former Slavia favourite and Czech national-team captain Tomáš Souček.

Alphonse Areola becomes the Club’s outright record European appearance-holder with 26 appearances in the competition.

In defence, Coufal is joined by Kurt Zouma, Nayef Aguerd and maybe surprisingly Emerson which leaves Aaron Cresswell on the side lines

This is Zouma’s second major European final, but his first appearance in one, since he was an unused substitute for Chelsea in their 2021 UEFA Champions League final win over Manchester City in Porto.

In midfield, Souček is joined by familiar faces in captain Declan Rice and Paquetá.

Hammer of the Year Rice leads his team out on his 245th appearance in a West Ham shirt and becomes just the third player, after Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds, to captain the Hammers in a major European final.

Paquetá has also played ten times and scored once in the UECL this season. The Brazilian was also on target against Gent at home, scoring the penalty which put the Irons ahead on the night and on course for a 5-2 aggregate victory.

The forward line is also familiar, with Jarrod Bowen and Saïd Benrahma flanking Michail Antonio.

The trio have combined to score 15 of West Ham’s 33 European goals this season, with Jamaica international Antonio leading the way with seven. Bowen has five and Benrahma three.

West Ham United: Areola, Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson, Souček, Rice ©, Paquetá, Bowen, Benrahma, Antonio
Subs: Fabiański (GK), Johnson, Kehrer, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Downes, Potts, Lanzini, Cornet, Fornals, Mubama, Ings

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Player said he decided to stay at westham after what David Moyes told him

6:10pm
West Ham United: Vladimir Coufal reveals he’s turned down move to Bayer Leverkusen
By James Murray

West Ham defender Vladimir Coufal has revealed that he turned down a move to Bayer Leverkusen in January.

The Czech Republic right-back has been a consistent performer for the Hammers since signing from Slavia Prague in 2020, having made 107 appearances for the club.

After being left on the bench for a number of games towards the end of 2022, the 30-year-old returned to the fold earlier this year and played an important role in helping his side avoid relegation and reach the Europa Conference League final in his home country.

That might not have been the case had Coufal decided to leave the London Stadium when Bayer Leverkusen came calling, but he decided to remain in East London despite holding talks with the German giants.

Speaking to Football.London ahead of the Europa Conference League final, Coufal said: “It was a tough time for me because everyone wants to be on the pitch and I’m no exception.

“If I feel I’m not needed, I wanted to move. But it wasn’t at the stage I should move. I spoke to the manager early after the break and he told me some stuff, it was right for me, so I decided not to push for a move and I think it was a great decision.

“I had a really good second part of the season, except for my injuries. Hopefully, the season will end up with a trophy.”

“My intention wasn’t to leave the club, I just want to be on the pitch. I love to be here, I love to play at the London Stadium. When you put it like this, it was a great decision to stay here at the club and to lift the trophy could be perfect for me, for all of West Ham. Now we can imagine how it’s going to be when we win.”

Loyal

West Ham’s fortunes have turned around dramatically since Coufal and his compatriot Tomas Soucek arrived at the club, having qualified for European football in both of the full seasons the pair have spent at the London Stadium.

There was a time towards the back of last year when the Czech wasn’t featuring as much as he would’ve liked, but he showed great character to come back and prove his worth by starting in 17 of the last 23 Premier League games.

His reliability, tireless enthusiasm and love for a tackle has really endeared him to Hammers fans over the past few years and he would’ve been a big loss to the club had he left in January.

It’s clear he loves being at West Ham as much as we have grown to love having him around the place, so it would be great to see his loyalty be rewarded by winning the Europa Conference League in his homeland.

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UNITED
Club want ‘strong discount’ of €7-8m on Leeds player’s price – One of ‘two ways’ deal can happen

Earlier this week, it was claimed that Leeds United were set for an imminent meeting with AS Roma to discuss the future of Diego Llorente.

The Elland Road side have been relegated back to the Championship, and with the Serie A club keen to hold onto the Spaniard after an impressive late part of the campaign, there’s hope a deal can be struck.

Roma Giallorossa bring an update on Wednesday regarding the Leeds defender’s situation, and back up other claims that the Italians are ‘working to retain’ him for longer.

It’s pointed out José Mourinho was the one who was ‘impressed by the professionalism’ shown by the player, but there’s no denying the pre-agreed €18m is too much, especially after the Whites’ descent into the second-tier.
That’s why there are now ‘two ways’ AS Roma could keep Llorente, and that’s either through the ‘renewal of the loan’ or a ‘strong discount’ of around €7-8m on the figure above.

This would mean the Serie A club paying Leeds €10-11m, which those in charge of the English club will have to consider and assess, as it could be the only way to get rid of the player in the coming months unless another club come knocking with more money.