Vladimir Coufal was the second to last West Ham player to head down the tunnel following the defeat to Everton on Sunday afternoon. The 28-year-old does not take defeat well, after the losses to Manchester’s City and United earlier this year he was again one of the last men off the field. At Old Trafford in particular he was distraught, screaming with annoyance into his shirt as he covered his face and lay on the ground. David Moyes has put this frustration down to Coufal’s will to win and never accepting being second best.
David Moyes said “He is a great character Vladimir and thinks we should be winning all of the games. It doesn’t really matter who he comes up against he is going to try and do the best he can. He has been great for us and he is a terrific player but also a terrific boy to have around and that is the sort of thing that goes through the squad and through the players is a great self-belief.”
Following the Everton defeat, Coufal’s assessment of the performance was brutally honest, particularly about the attackers’ failings.
Vladimir Coufal said “We didn’t score a goal, that’s what was missing for us today. When you don’t score a goal you cannot win. We had some opportunities, but to be honest we played well on the whole pitch until the final third.”
The full-back came closest to rescuing a point for the Hammers only to see his shot bounce back off the inside of the post, while Said Benrahma spurned a great chance in the first half, when he put his header just off target when well placed. But Coufal’s message was clear after the game as he sent a warning to his team-mates.
Vladimir Coufal said “We have to be better in the final third of the pitch and improve our game there.”