Tomas Soucek hopes to return to his best form and prove his strength on the field.

West Ham United midfielder Tomas Solček expressed his gratitude for the fans' enthusiastic support during the team's 1-1 draw against Queens Park Rangers. The Czech international returned to the pitch at London Stadium after a five-month absence. He had previously suffered an ankle ligament injury while playing for his country during the 2026 World Cup, but has now successfully recovered and returned to action.  

Tomas Soček returned from injury in this match and played the first 45 minutes. However, he admitted that after a long break, he still needs to gradually regain his competitive form through official matches. He said, "It's a really wonderful feeling to be back on the field. I'm very happy that the fans welcomed me back with such enthusiasm and friendliness, and I'm also very happy to finally be able to participate in the game again."  

“I’m disappointed with the result of this match, as I had hoped to make a better comeback. However, I still need to gradually regain my confidence, strive for more playing opportunities, and readjust to the rhythm of the game. I’m already very happy to be back on the field. The fans have given me a lot of support and kindness, and I hope to enjoy my return. Of course, I also understand that there are still many areas where I need to improve.”  

“I hope to get back to my best form and prove my worth on the pitch. I don’t want to have to wait a long time, finally get a chance to come back, and then fail to perform to my full potential. I want to continue to play for the team, show my true level, and take on leadership responsibilities to help West Ham United achieve their goal of returning to the Premier League.”  

However, Tomas Soucek's return was not without controversy, with a rather questionable decision occurring in the 16th minute. While defending against Queens Park Rangers winger Paul Smith, he appeared to touch the ball first before colliding with him, yet the referee still awarded the away team a penalty. Even more controversially, the physical contact seemed to have occurred outside the penalty area, and Nicholas Madsen ultimately capitalized on the opportunity to convert the penalty, giving Queens Park Rangers the lead.  

Tomas Soucek said: "I was very happy when I thought I had made a pretty good defensive play and successfully got the ball back. However, after the confrontation, the referee called a foul, which confused me because I didn't think I had any contact with the opposing player at all."  

“The point of contact was about a meter from the penalty area line, and I was clearly trying to win possession. Therefore, I am quite disappointed with this decision because it affects not only me personally, but the whole team as a whole. It is indeed unacceptable, but the referee has made his decision, and we cannot change the outcome.”  

Tomas Soucek was substituted at halftime and remained on the bench to watch the game unfold. West Ham United then equalized through a goal from captain Jarrod Bowen, but near the end of the match, Bowen was awarded a penalty but failed to convert, his shot being saved by Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Piers Charles.  

He added, "I'm pleased that the team managed to come back in the second half and ultimately secure a point. We did lack some luck towards the end, but that's football. We have to accept the result now, as there are still many games to play this season, and our goal remains to win. I believe the team will regain its winning form starting from the next round."  

Image source: Internet/West Ham United official website