Moyes: "Prague? Can't remember if I've been..."

By Alessandro Schiavone in Prague

David Moyes has fading memories about whether he's ever been to Prague in his life.

The capital of the Czech Republic is the venue for this year's Europa Conference League showpiece between West Ham and Fiorentina on the 7th of June.

To reach the latest stage of the competition the Hammers had to get past AZ Alkmaar while Fiorentina successfully sent FC Basel packing.

The Tuscany giants were the first Italian team to reach the European Cup final back in 1957 when they were defeated 2-0 by Alfredo di Stefano's Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

For West Ham it will be the maiden continental final since losing to Anderlecht in the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1976.

Yet Moyes does not have a worry in the world about getting lost in Prague as midfielder Tomas Souček, who lived 15 years in the city when he played for Slavia Prague, will show him around if needed.

The West Ham boss told Capital Football: "Prague? I think I might have gone to a game but maybe not.

"Tomas Soucek says he’s gonna look after me.

"I think it’s back to their stadium, I think.

"It’s a great achievement for West Ham Football Club to be in a European final.”

The former Everton boss also reflected on the psychological scars the defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in last year's Europa League last-four left on his team going into this season.

But he feels that those ghosts have now been laid to rest thanks to their win in a European semi-final.

He said: "I talked about it to the players before we left, the disappointment we had in Frankfurt, the scenes which we all emotionally got caught up.

"The scenes outside were incredible, I have to say the Frankfurt support was awesome, it really was. We just reminded the players how we felt, we didn’t want to feel that way again.

"And there were some differences in the dressing room [on Thursday] , it was fantastic"