Tomáš Souček spoke to the media following his side’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Tuesday night.
The 30-year-old gave the Hammers the lead in the 50th minute when he poked home **Jarrod Bowen**’s inviting cross. However, in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time, Benjamin Šeško equalised for the Red Devils, putting a dent in West Ham’s survival hopes.
After the game, Souček stated how they must take the positives and how the club wants to play in the Premier League next season.
“It’s tough to take. It’s devastating. Similar feelings as I had against Chelsea two weeks ago, but on the other end, we have to take the positives and not think about the small moments and take it and go game by game.
“I just believe that we showed how we care, how we play, that we are in the right momentum, the right way to go, and that’s all that matters because obviously this is tough, another points we lost, we could be closer, but now we have the FA Cup next game. I believe that the spirit in the changing room is so different to it was two months ago, and I just hope we carry on like this.
“We could’ve won five or even six. It’s so many games, we played very well, but as I said, now it’s a game gone, and we have to take positives for the next one because we know that we are still far, but not as far as we were two months ago. We are getting closer and have to go game by game, and that’s all that matters.
*“I have to thank all the fans because they were incredible, and they are behind us because we don’t want to be in the championship next season. We want to play Premier League, and we are West Ham. We are all together, and that’s what I care.*
“We have to take positives from how we played, how we pressed, whatever we did on the pitch, we have to take it for another game. Now it’s FA Cup, then it’s Bournemouth, but go into these games with the winning mentality because we know that every win we are so much closer to our goal and that’s all that matters.
“I feel like we are all together. Staff at the training ground, here at the stadium, everyone we are together, the fans, even if I meet them outside of the stadium or at the stadium, they are just with us, and I really feel it.”
With his goal against Manchester United, it was Souček’s 39th Premier League, which meant he became the all-time leading Czech Premier League goalscorer, overtaking Patrik Berger.
“I’m so proud for this record because I always care where I am from. I’m from the Czech Republic, and I want people to be proud of me. I did the maximum to get this record. I was level with Patrik Berger. He’s an incredible player, so big respect to him, and now, obviously, it’s mine, and I will support another player who goes for it.
“I just appreciate it, and I’m just happy that it was a great goal because Jarrod [Bowen] made a good run, and I was just in the right moment as always I do.”