Star Vladimir Coufal insists West Ham were happy to release him for international duty after reports the club are angry over his call-up.
West Ham were said to be raging over a messy situation surrounding absolutely key player Vladimir Coufal amid his ongoing injury concerns.
And Hammers insider doubled down on those claims when Coufal started for the Czech Republic against Poland on Friday night (Claret and Hugh).
West Ham have been without Coufal since the 4-0 win over Forest last month due to a heel injury.
So it is understandable that West Ham had concerns about his call-up to the Czech Republic squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers against Poland and Moldova.
Especially with David Moyes under pressure to get his best team together in the fight to stay in the Premier League.
But he started at right wingback in a 3-1 win over Poland, setting up a goal inside the first minute. Coufal lasted 71 minutes before being substituted.
“We wish Coufal wasn’t going away given the circumstances with his heel problem,” a key West Ham source told Claret and Hugh.
“And who knows what injuries any of the other senior players on duty will pick up.”
But star Coufal insists West Ham were happy to release him for international duty after reports the club are angry over his call-up.
Speaking in an interview with Sport CZ in his homeland, Coufal insists he did the necessary tests and training back at Rush Green and the club released him for the national team.
“I got the final green light from West Ham this Saturday when I did the exit training that they needed at the club to release me,” Coufal told Sport CZ.
“This is how we planned it from the beginning.
“Hats off to the club, we could also say that I’m injured, that we have a tough schedule ahead of us, that they need me and I’m not going anywhere. They behaved really well.”