Nuno hails Tomas Soucek after record-breaking goal vs Man United

Nuno Espírito Santo hailed Tomas Soucek’s “amazing” contribution after West Ham’s draw with Manchester United, insisting the Czech midfielder remains a nightmare for even elite defenders to handle.

While the contest at the London Stadium was shaped by collective resilience, it was Soucek’s landmark goal that stole the headlines. His 39th Premier League strike made him the highest-scoring Czech player in the competition’s history, surpassing Patrik Berger.

The breakthrough came five minutes into the second half after a largely uneventful opening period. Jarrod Bowen drove forward with purpose down the flank before delivering the decisive pass, but as Ally McCoist noted on TNT Sport, it was Soucek’s timing and instinctive finish that made the move count.

Speaking after the match, Nuno underlined the value Soucek brings beyond just goals.

“Having Tomas Soucek in the middle of the park allowed us to contain them better,” he said. “Tomas has this quality where he is always able to find space and score.

“And beside that, he did an amazing job during the game.”

Back in November, when Soucek drew level with Berger’s tally of 38 Premier League goals, Nuno had described him as a “nightmare” for defenders. That assessment looked accurate again, with Lisandro Martínez and Harry Maguire struggling to track his movement inside the penalty area.

Soucek’s knack for ghosting into pockets of space has long been a defining trait. Against Manchester United, it proved decisive once more.

While Soucek claimed the milestone moment, West Ham’s display was underpinned by disciplined defensive work. Axel Disasi and Konstantinos Mavropanos stood firm at the back, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Mateus Fernandes offered support in transition.

El Hadji Malick Diouf also impressed, restricting Amad Diallo’s influence for large spells. The balance between structure and opportunism gave West Ham the platform to compete with a side chasing Champions League qualification.

Having followed West Ham’s recent performances closely, the shift in mentality is noticeable. The spirit Soucek referenced post-match reflects a squad growing in belief despite fine margins proving costly.

The midfielder was quick to acknowledge Bowen’s role in the goal and spoke with pride about his achievement.

“I’m really proud to break the record, because I’m always proud of where I am from,” Soucek said. “I am from the Czech Republic, and I want the people there to be proud of me.

“I did my maximum to get this record, after I was level for so long with Patrik Berger. Now it’s mine, and I’m so happy. It was a great goal, after Jarrod made a great run, and I was just in the right place at the right time.”

Despite the personal milestone, Soucek admitted frustration at not securing all three points.

“Obviously, the result is tough to take. It’s devastating with how it happened, and it feels similar to what happened at Chelsea. But we have to look at the positives rather than these small moments.

“We’ve shown how much we care and how well we can play. We just need to keep working and carry on.”

West Ham will look to convert promising performances into consistent results as the season progresses. Maintaining defensive solidity while capitalising on Soucek’s attacking instincts could be central to that aim.

For Nuno, reinforcing the collective confidence evident against Manchester United will be key in building momentum over the coming weeks.

Does Soucek’s record-breaking form make him West Ham’s most important player this season?