Tomas Soucek expressed his frustration with West Ham United's poor start to the match, which ultimately ended in a 2-1 defeat to Leeds United. Just three minutes into the match at Elland Road, West Ham conceded a close-range shot from Brendan Aaronson. In the 15th minute, Joe Rodon headed in Sean Longstaff's corner, putting West Ham 2-0 down.  

Captain Jarrod Bowen came close to scoring with a dangerous shot between the lines for the hosts, but Lucas Paqueta had a goal ruled out for offside, and although Mateus Fernandez equalised in the 90th minute, it was too little too late to reverse the defeat.  

"Our goal was clear: to score first, but unfortunately we conceded the ball too early, which made the start of the game very difficult," said Tomas Soucek after reaching his 200th Premier League game in West Yorkshire. "We created some chances to equalise, such as Jarrod Bowen's overhead kick and my header, but they then scored their second goal. Although we later pulled one back, we were on the defensive for most of the game, so we knew we had to improve our performance."  

"We must continue to strengthen defensively because it is always difficult to win by just scoring two or three goals. We need to start with defense, build a solid foundation, and then create offensive opportunities. Overall, the team must go all out and fight for every ball."  

Tomas Soucek, 30, who has made over 250 appearances for West Ham United and captains the Czech Republic national team , said he is confident he can play a key role in helping West Ham return to the top of the Premier League in the coming weeks.  

West Ham United is currently in the relegation zone in the Premier League table, having completed nine matches. They next face two home matches against Newcastle United and Burnley. Tomas Soucek stated, "We are aware of the severity of the current situation and cannot afford to miss any more games. We must give our all, continue to improve, and accumulate points in the standings as quickly as possible."  

“I have been at the club for many years and have accumulated a wealth of experience, so I must take responsibility and ensure that everyone in the team plays their role. Every player must play a leadership role, show their ability and bring satisfactory performances to the fans.”