Coufal’s nearly four-year goal drought: I have a celebration in mind, maybe I haven’t scored yet because I haven’t had anything typical

He is expected to play his 100th Premier League game next weekend, but he is still waiting for his first goal for West Ham. Finishing chances is not Vladimir Coufal’s main role, yet his wait of more than three years for a goal is already interminable.

That Vladimir Coufal has not yet scored a goal in a West Ham jersey began to be resolved at the end of his second season in England, in the summer of 2022. He has been collecting assists regularly, but he hasn’t been able to get on the scorers’ list. A year and a quarter later, the wait continues, lasting 114 matches.

During this period of more than three years, it is the offensive quality, symbolized by the 14 assists, that has won over Hammers fans. He has passed for two shots so far this season, against Liverpool and Manchester City.

The long wait for a goal prompts the question of whether the national side’s full-back has any specific celebration at all. He has been productive in the Czech league, but we haven’t seen a typical gesture from him.

“I was thinking the other day that maybe that’s why I haven’t scored a goal yet. Now we have made such a sign with the children on holiday,” Coufal said in an interview with Canal+ Sport.

He celebrated goals in his first league engagement. He also played for Liberec in European Cup qualifiers, scoring twice. In total, he scored six goals in 158 games for the North Bohemian club.

Perhaps surprisingly, Coufal didn’t even play 100 games for Slavia. However, in 88 games, he has an impressive record of seven goals and nine assists. He has therefore scored in every 12th game in the red and white, scoring a point even every 5.5 games.

At West Ham he averages an assist every seventh game, thanks largely to productive seasons in 2020/21 and 2021/22. He has now assisted in two of the past three Premier League rounds, so when else to strike for the first time if not now.

“When I was leaving for a game one day and I was saying goodbye to the kids, I thought I could use it as a goal celebration. So when it comes, you’ll all see it,” Coufal added.

Source: Canal+ Sport