Now no stranger and fully adapted to the hectic nature of the festive fixture schedule in England, Coufal insists he is relishing the run of West Ham United games over the next couple of weeks.
“I love to play as many games as possible, so I really enjoy this time of year in the football calendar,” added Coufal.
“It is a time [of year] to rotate the team with so many games in a busy period, so it’s something I enjoy, and we know it’s an important period of the footballing calendar.
“The first year here in the United Kingdom was tough because we played on the 23rd, 26th and then 28th of December, and it was something I wasn’t used to because I used to have a big Christmas dinner in the Czech Republic.
“I had to change my diet, obviously, but I don’t mind it because I feel fresher. My kids are at school here, so we try to make sure we follow both Czech and UK traditions.
“The biggest sacrifice for me is that I’m not able to spend as much time with friends and family as I would like to, and, for example, I haven’t been home for the last few years for Christmas or New Year with my family. It can sometimes be difficult, but you have to adapt, and I'm sure a few good results would make things a bit easier!”