West Ham defender Vladimir Coufal has spoken candidly about his frustrations this season, admitting that his first-team opportunities have been limited under new head coach Julen Lopetegui.
The Czech international, a mainstay in previous campaigns, has struggled to secure regular game time, with Lopetegui favouring summer signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the right-wing-back role.
The Hammers’ season has been anything but smooth, with Lopetegui already under intense pressure after a string of disappointing results.
Speculation over his future continues to mount, as West Ham languish in mid-table obscurity, far from the heights they aspired to at the start of the campaign.
Coufal, however, remains determined to fight for his place and insists he has no intention of giving up. Speaking to the club’s official website, he said:
“It’s been a bit different for me this year, and I have to fight even more, but I am not giving up.
“I have to fight for my spot, but I have always been and always will be a fighter and won’t give up my position without a challenge.
“I’ve played five games this season in the Premier League, and after being on the bench for six games, getting back on the pitch against Everton before the break was very positive for me, and I was very excited to show something.”
The Hammers face a crucial test on Monday night as they travel to St James’ Park to take on Newcastle United. It’s a game of immense importance for Lopetegui and the club as they look to arrest their poor form.
Coufal acknowledged the challenge ahead but remains optimistic about the team’s ability to secure a positive result.
“We’re all expecting a tough game at Newcastle, especially under the lights at St James’ Park,” he said.
“They [Newcastle United] will press us very high up the pitch and will play very demanding football as they’re a good side, have a very good manager and have a very vocal fanbase. I enjoy visiting their stadium, and it’s a great place to play football.
“I hope we are able to show something because we need to finally step up and get some good results. We’re looking to start picking up some points. Hopefully, we can get a positive result from our trip to Newcastle.
“I remember our win there on the opening day of the 2021/22 season and it being a crazy game. We were behind twice but scored three times in the second half to win 4-2. It was the first game of the season, which was a perfect start for us, and hopefully we can repeat something like that on Monday.”
The match represents a pivotal moment for West Ham’s season as the club and its players seek a much-needed turnaround.
