Ex-Slavia Prague midfielder Tomas Soucek claims he’s eyeing a Europa League Battle of Britain clash with Rangers at new side West Ham United.
The Premier League star was a big player in Jindřich Trpišovský’s impressive Czech outfit but moved to England before Rangers played Slavia in last season’s Europa League.
Remaining close to the Slavia Prague team, Soucek made headlines last season when his former teammates phoned him from the pitch after defeating Leicester.
But in the last 16 of the competition the match was overshadowed by a disgraceful incidence of racial abuse that result in Ondrej Kudela being banned for 10 matches.
Tomas Soucek has previously defended his former club and international teammate and claimed that he believes that Kudela did not racially abuse Glen Kamara.
The midfielder would then claim that the comments had been taken “out of context”.
Initially impressing on loan, West Ham spent around £19m in total [Sky Sports] to bring the Czech international midfielder to the Olympic Stadium and he has gone on to impress down south.
With David Moyes’ Hammers side punching above their weight in the Premier League, they have also impressed on their return to the European stage this season.
West Ham qualified as Group H winners – which means they’re given a by to the last 16 – whilst Rangers finished second in Group A and face a playoff with Champions League dropouts Borussia Dortmund to reach that stage.
Tomas Soucek eyeing Rangers West Ham grudge match
Speaking after Rangers defeated Dortmund 4-2 in Germany and ahead of the second leg, West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek admitted he wants Rangers in the next round, although he made no mention of his former side.
“I’m looking forward to the draw, because I’ve been watching the games in the round before us,” Tomas Soucek told the West Ham website.
“Teams still have their second legs on Thursday, so I’ll watch them, and also I will watch the draw if it’s possible.
“I’ve thought about a few teams I would like to play against, and if I could say one, it would be Rangers, because I want to play against them as a big rival.
“It could be a really good game for teams from England against Scotland, big rivals! It would be a really exciting game for the fans and also for us.
“This team could be good, but everyone we could draw at this stage of the competition will be difficult to face because they have had to win many games to go through.
“Let’s see – I look forward to it!”
Before they can even think about West Ham, Rangers are preparing to host Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of their Europa League clash amid some big news surrounding the Germans.
