WEST HAM fan favourite Vladimir Coufal says it makes him “laugh” when he recalls telling Cristiano Ronaldo to “f**k off” in a heated game against Manchester United.
Ronaldo completed a fairy tale return to Old Trafford last summer.
On his Premier League return, the legendary 37-year-old hit a brace in a 4-1 win over Newcastle.
Up next was a tricky trip to West Ham, where Ronaldo would come up against hardworking Czech Coufal – who wasn’t fazed by the big name in front of him.
Coufal has revealed what he said to the five-time Ballon d’Or winner when they met at the London Stadium last term.
Ronaldo went down in the penalty area under pressure from the Hammers right-back and wanted a penalty – but the referee let play continue, leaving CR7 in fits of rage.
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Writing on Bez Frazi, Coufal said: “What, did I hear that right?
“‘Fuck off!!’
“I have to laugh watching myself. I feel like laughing right there on the pitch when I say something like that to Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Just like some time ago against United, when he shouted at me something about tripping him in the penalty area, and that I know that should’ve been a penalty.
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“I guess he thought I’d go to a ref and confess.
“’The referee didn’t whistle, no penalty. Play on, we can talk after the game.’
“I waved at him. He was punching the ground angrily and people were booing at him.
“Telling you this, I laugh again.”
Coufal went on to describe the Man Utd ace as “possibly the greatest football player in history.”
Coufal continued: “I feared nobody on the field. I was the only one able to defeat myself.
“But it wasn’t until now that I had found a player in me who takes no s**t from others.
“Just a few years back it was enough for Matejovsky, Skoda or Dockal to yell at me and I backed off. I left the fight and let it be.
“Now I’m a player who is able to send Ronaldo to hell and with one gesture show that not even Pogba can take me on.
“I don’t care what name the player has on his back, or what crest he wears on his chest.
“I don’t tell you this to show off or for my self-confidence. Perhaps it’s a bit arrogant at first glance, but you need a great deal of humility.”
Coufal believes fear has an impact both on the mind of the person and those surrounded by him.
Being fearless is a key quality to being a leader.
He said: “I believe being fearful has an impact on the mind of a person and the mood of his surroundings.
“And it doesn’t matter whether you try to stay hidden in the crowd in your personal life, a job or as a pro athlete.
“In all fields, it should be the case that no one can be higher than a leader. Today, I feel like a leader.”
The Hammer also says opponents felt they “could do whatever they wanted” around him due to his unknown status when he rocked up in East London.
But he made sure they’d remember him by full-time.
Ex-Slavia Prague ace Coufal said: “If you want to succeed in sports, you must make your opponent nervous.
“During the first few weeks in England, no one knew my name.
“That’s why my opponents felt like they could do whatever they wanted around me.
“But I didn’t want to allow that.
“And there is only one way to face them: Make them nervous.
“Do you want to zigzag in front of me? Sure, go ahead. Just know it’s going to hurt.
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“Are you trying to be cheeky? Alright, come here.
“Remember who I am. Vladimir Coufal is my name. And I wear number 5.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
