Vladimir Coufal told his West Ham United team-mates that they have to reach the UEFA Europa Conference League final with it being held in Prague.
The Hammers defender has featured in six European games this season and will be looking to help his side progress to the final four when they face Belgian side Gent on Thursday night.
Should they do that and then reach the final, going one better than the team did last season in the UEFA Europa League, the showpiece event will be played in the Czech Republic - Coufal's home country.
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Speaking ahead of the first-leg, Coufal said the prospect of lifting the trophy in Prague in front of friends and family is extra motivation for him.
"It is a huge motivation for me, and Tom [Soucek], to bring the West Ham team and all the staff to Prague. Show them a beautiful stadium from Slavia Prague and some beautiful places. It's a huge motivation," he said.
"When I found out it was going to be held in Prague, I said to the players we have to reach the final and hopefully we will. To lift the trophy in front of my family, friends and in my country would be something extra for me."
David Moyes' side were one step away from reaching a final last season, losing to eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League, and pair that with the Czech Republic losing in the last-eight to Denmark in the Euros, Coufal is using that fuel to push West Ham all the way this season in Europe.
"When you lose a game like this last season, it's still in my head to be honest. When we lost in the quarter-finals against Denmark with Czech Republic in the Euros, we were very close. With West Ham we were very close to the final and you never know what could've happened," he said.
"I could've been sitting here as a Europa League winner. Now I'm sitting here as a semi-finalist so it's a big difference. Winning a trophy is something extra and every player wants to experience this. It's still in my head but me and team-mates are doing everything to repair the semi-final loss from last season and lift the trophy."
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