Following West Ham United’s 2-0 win over Leicester City, midfielder Tomas Soucek has sent a message to Tottenham stating that the Hammers have one goal this season.
Football is a game built on rivalries, and the Premier League is no exception. For Tottenham Hotspur, the North London derby against Arsenal is the fiercest battle of all.
However, the Lilywhites have other intense matchups across the capital, with games against fellow London sides adding fuel to long-standing rivalries.
The last time Tottenham faced West Ham, tensions flared as Mohammed Kudus saw red for raising his hands to both Micky van de Ven and Pape Matar Sarr.
Meanwhile, in a heated encounter against Chelsea, Spurs fans threw paper missiles at Cole Palmer, underlining the fiery nature of these clashes.
Thomas Soucek aims to topple Tottenham Hotspur
In the spirit of such rivalries, West Ham’s Tomas Soucek has made it clear that his side is determined to finish above Tottenham after scoring in the Hammers’ win over Leicester City.
Speaking in his post-match interview, Soucek emphasised that his team’s goal is to finish as high as possible, directly challenging Tottenham and Manchester United in the process.
MORE SPURS STORIES
The Czech midfielder also highlighted the significance of the Tottenham fixture for West Ham fans, labelling it a “big derby” and insisting he wants the Hammers to be “better than them.”
He told TNT Sports as relayed by BBC Sport: “It is tough to have this big impact in the second half of the season, but I think in these last two games we have shown good spirit and a strong team effort.
“I could see in the first half it was a very good performance, in the second we made a few mistakes but still won 2-0, and it was a great result.
“I think that even this can help our manager believe in what we are doing, and we are all so grateful for him.
“We know that the season is tough, but we want to finish as high as possible. We know we can challenge some big teams.
“Manchester United and Tottenham are around us. Even for West Ham fans, it is a big derby with Tottenham, so we want to be better than them.”
When West Ham and Spurs meet again
Soucek’s ambition of finishing above Spurs is still within reach, with both sides currently level on points. Tottenham sit in 13th place, while West Ham are in 15th, highlighting a challenging season for both clubs.
While West Ham aim for a strong league finish, Tottenham have their sights set on European glory, with the Europa League becoming a priority.
The next meeting between the two rivals is set to be a thrilling encounter, scheduled for 23rd March 2025 at 12:00 pm UK time. With both sides eager to assert dominance, it promises to be another fiery London derby.