West Ham United midfielder Pablo Fornals said he was left “crying like a kid” at full-time after his late goal against AZ Alkmaar set the Hammers’ up with their first European final since 1976.
The Spaniard came off the bench at the AFAS Stadion in place of Said Benrahma with 15 minutes to go and in the fourth minute of stoppage time, winning a tackle on the halfway line before nutmegging Jordy Clasie and then running to shoot across Mathew Ryan and in, sealing a 1-0 semi-final second leg victory and a 3-1 aggregate win for the Hammers.
Speaking about the victory and the final next month against Fiorentina in Prague, Fornals said he was delighted to be able to help his side reach a first European final for 47 years.
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“Unbelievable really,” said Fornals. “I’m really happy for the club because it was a long time without the club being in this situation. I’m really happy to arrive at this moment with this club.
“First of all, thank you for the people who came here, they’re massive everywhere they go! We know already they’ll be in Prague as well because that’s what West Ham supporters do, they’re always behind us. I’m really happy to be with them.”
The game was marred in some ways at the full-time whistle when a group of Alkmaar fans charged and broke a fence before heading over to West Ham’s players’ families were situated and attack them.
With Fornals not having any of his family at the game in the Netherlands, he was not at the incident like some other players were, instead admitting that he dropped to the floor when the full-time whistle went and sobbed as West Ham won for the 13th time in Europe this season.
“To be honest, I didn’t see a lot because I don’t have anyone here watching me tonight, so I didn’t have any [family] to watch in that area,” Fornals explained. “When the referee whistled for the end I just threw myself into the floor and started crying like a kid. I don’t know why but I seem to cry a lot this season!
“After that I went inside, tried to keep the guys in because we don’t need that as players. Obviously, I was really concerned about how the family of my teammates and the West Ham family are. Hopefully, everyone is okay and the police can do their job and realise who did it.
“It’s not great when you are in that beautiful moment and people who aren’t trying to use violence against you. We can’t do anything else but try to help the police to realise who did it and pray for the family of my people being healthy.”
Fornals’ celebrations post-match were cut short after he was randomly selected to be drug tested at full-time, meaning his arrival to join his teammates’ post-match celebrations were delayed.
He admitted he was sad he had not got a chance to join his colleagues straight away but that while being tested, he could hear his teammates enjoying themselves.
“I haven’t been in the dressing room yet because I got picked for doping but from the doping area I could hear the guys shouting and they’re really happy,” said Fornals.
“That made me a bit sad because I would like to be in there as well.”
Regardless of what happens in the final against Fiorentina, Fornals’ goal will forever etch him into West Ham history, just weeks after coming off the bench to score a scorpion kick against Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Asked if it was his best moment in a West Ham shirt, Fornals was quick to reply and say that hopefully, there was more special moments to come later down the line.
“Hopefully not! Hopefully, there are more to come,” Fornals exclaimed.
“It’s going to be the first final I’ve played for a club so it’s massive for me, massive for the lads, massive for the club. That’s how happy we are for this night.”
Fornals’ last two goals, against Alkmaar and Bournemouth have led to him showing his emotions in what has been a challenging campaign for the former Villarreal man, starting just 24 of his 47 outings this term.
The Spaniard said that it has been a challenging campaign for him, adding that when things have gone well, it has been tough to hide his passion and gratitude.
“No just it’s been difficult and in difficult moments, any good news is even bigger,” said Fornals. “This moment for me and my family after this season is unbelievable.
“I’m having a lot of feelings inside myself and when I score or have moments like that, when I’m with my son receiving a hug or a kiss from him I realise how happy I am and how proud to be here right now.”
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