West Ham United defender Vladimir Coufal has admitted to the Telegraph that he was expecting a tough game up against Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish on Wednesday evening.
West Ham ultimately ran out 3-1 winners at Villa Park, with David Moyes devising a tactical plan to stop Grealish getting into the game.
West Ham deployed Coufal and Ryan Fredericks on the right-hand side, with Tomas Soucek also keeping a watchful eye on him from midfield.
The Villa playmaker was stifled expertly, but Coufal admits that he was concerned about facing the player he described as ‘the best in the league right now’ before kick off.
“I said before the game I had to buy a lasso and be like a cowboy for Grealish,” he said. “But the manager gave me Ryan and Tomas instead!”
Coufal’s clash with Grealish was actually a tempestuous one, with the Czech Republic international seen shouting at the Villa talisman on regular occasions.
But the Hammers right-back ultimately came out on top in one of the toughest tests that any Premier League defender can face right now.
Coufal’s performance only helped to improve his rapidly increasing reputation and served to show that he is now one of the most strong, defensive full-backs in the Premier League.
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