Declan Rice insists West Ham have ‘got the fire in our belly’ ahead of Conference League final

Declan Rice has insisted West Ham’s stars want to “make history” ahead of their Europa Conference League final.

The Hammers, who finished 14th in the Premier League, take on Serie A side Fiorentina on Wednesday as they seek their first European trophy in 47 years.

The match provides a fantastic opportunity for some of West Ham’s players to etch their names into the club’s history and, ahead of the match, Rice called out to his teammates.

Talking to the club website, Rice said, “Every time I put the shirt on, I know how big it is. This will be the biggest game the club has had in a long time.

So it will be an honor to be a part of it and hopefully we can make some history on the night for the fans to cheer for.

The Hammers will travel to Prague to secure their first European title in 47 years

“Just to keep that trophy in the air, especially to be with the guys too – our group of guys are such good people, and to see them laughing and laughing and singing after the semis.

“It definitely has the fire in our guts to have nights like that again, and we have a chance to do that. There’s a lot of things that add to it, but for me it’s about wanting to see the guys smile again and lift the trophy. It’s in our hands, so we’re going to push to do that.

The Hammers hope to use the experience of their Europa League semi-final defeat last season to help them take things a step further this year.

“I think the feeling of the defeat we had against Eintracht Frankfurt last year, and the way the two legs went – conceded in the first minute in the first game at home, come back, but then they scored again, then we went to their place and had a man sent away. It was just how it went throughout the tie – it empathizes with you,” Rice explained.

“We have already made history by reaching the final, but now there is an opportunity to create a legacy in which every player, the manager and everyone involved will be remembered forever.”

“Now it’s a final, anything can happen. It’s a game of football and we’ll do everything we can to get the job done.’

Rice, who progressed through the West Ham academy before making his first-team debut in 2017, insisted a victory in Prague would be his biggest career highlight to date.

“I think this would be my greatest achievement in football to date,” Rice claimed. “I think winning a trophy like this, a European trophy, with West Ham, I think it gives every player a higher status within the Club in terms of with the fans, how you will be remembered.

Serie A side Fiorentina is between the Hammers and a historic European title

Rice was photographed at London Stansted Airport as the Hammers made their way to Prague

David Moyes, his staff and the West Ham players left their Rush Green training ground after a morning session and headed for London Stansted Airport on Monday.

As they made their way to the flight, Captain Rice looked stern as he hopes to bring the club a trophy in what could be his last game for them.

They arrived in the Czech Republic on Monday evening after a 110-minute journey to Prague’s Vaclav Havel Airport. They were then met by two coaches to take the team to their hotel in the heart of the city.

The Hammers have not participated in a European final since they lost to Anderlecht in the Cup Winners Cup in 1976.