Vladimír Coufal: I have another battle for a roster spot. I have to fight for my chance

Vladimír Coufal has immediately settled into the starting line-up since his transfer to West Ham United. However, he was hampered by injury in early October and Benjamin Johnson took his place. What’s next for the national defender?

Vladimir Coufal transferred to West Ham United on October 1, 2020. Immediately upon his arrival at the Olympic Stadium, he settled into the starting line-up for coach David Moyes. The alternative at right-back is Ryan Fredericks, but he has only been on the pitch very sporadically.

In the previous Premier League season, he played 34 games for theCuf, during which he played 3055 minutes. A steady member of the national team, he assisted seven goals and made a significant contribution to the Hammers’ sixth place finish.

In the summer, Coufal travelled with the national team to the EURO. Coach Šilhavý put him in all five games and he didn’t miss a minute. For obvious reasons, Coufal missed the start of the summer training, but he was ready for the opening Premier League games.

But during the Carabao Cup match against Manchester United, he suffered a groin injury. He played the subsequent matches against Leeds United and Brentford despite the pain, but the pain did not subside and an enforced layoff occurred.

“I got injections which helped, it’s just that you always need time to rest. That’s what gives you the most. Unfortunately,there is not much time in a busy schedule,” Coufal said in an interview with Deník Sport.

While the former Slavie player was on the sidelines, the twenty-one-year-old Englishman Benjamin Johnson got a chance to show his qualities. And he made great use of the opportunity, scoring a goal against Aston Villa.

It will be extremely difficult for Vladimir Coufal to return to the starting line-up. “I have to wait. But we have a lot of games in December, I will definitely play. Then it depends on me. I’ll have to fight for a place in the line-up. I have to fight for my chance,” he added.

Source: Deník Sport