“Honestly, it is absolutely incredible.”
Declan Rice and his West Ham teammates were in flying form as they enjoyed a raucous, sun-soaked home-coming in East London after their Europa Conference League triumph, on Wednesday, in Prague.
The Londoners started the party late last night and kept it going as hordes of Hammers supporters welcomed back David Moyes’ men.
“Incredible,” Moyes told the crowd. “We had incredible support in Prague and here in east London it is sensational. We had a brilliant night. We will enjoy what we have done just now.”
West Ham captain Declan Rice, who looks set to depart the club in the summer transfer window, did not touch on his future with the club and focused, instead, on the club’s trophy success.
“To lift this trophy for this club hasn’t hit me yet. It is so special. I am lost for words,” he said. During the trophy parade ceremony, there was a moment (or two) that had the crowd lapping up their captain’s comments.
Early in his address to the crowds, the Hammers captain declared, “I f***ing love you guys!”
“Incredible,” he then reflected. “We had incredible support in Prague and here in East London is sensational. We had a brilliant night. What a finish by Jarrod Bowen and it was a great moment for us all.
“We will enjoy what we have done just now – 14 wins and one draw in the Europa Conference League. Last year we got to a semi-final but this year we have won the final!”
Then came the coup-de-grace, and a moment that forced the BBC presenter to offer a second language-related apology in short succession.
“To be honest with you,” Rice said, “I didn’t expect this many people tonight. But it is West Ham and we are f***ing massive, aren’t we?!”
“Once again I do apologise for the language of Declan Rice,” the presenter cut in.
Declan Rice on BBC news 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/rYB9BtU84O
— george (@StokeyyG2) June 8, 2023
“I was once a kid watching trophy parades and now to be on one is so special,” Declan Rice would also tell Sky Sports, who joined the players and staff on the bus for the trophy parade.
"I was once a kid watching trophy parades and now to be on one is so special!" ⭐
Declan Rice says it means so much as the team shows off the Europa Conference League trophy 🏆 pic.twitter.com/kTwntzRyGe
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) June 8, 2023
This party is not stopping for a while yet.
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