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Tomas Soucek reveals heartwarming video call with Michail Antonio as he dedicates celebration to stricken West Ham star
Lopetegui also paid tribute to Antonio after the win
TOMAS SOUCEK has revealed the heartwarming call with Michail Antonio before West Ham took on Wolves.
The Hammers star was the victim of a terrifying car crash that saw him airlifted to hospital.
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Antonio, 34, had to be cut free from his £260,000 Ferrari FF after it hit a tree in Theydon Bois, Essex, on Saturday.
He has since undergone surgery on a lower limb fracture in a London hospital.
West Ham beat Wolves 2-1 on Monday night in their first match since the shocking incident.
After the game, the Czech midfielder revealed that he and the rest of the team spoke to Antonio on a video call.
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He told Sky Sports: "It was a tough week for us and his family. It's really tough but we are happy he came to the position he can be.
"We saw him before the game, we had a video call with him before the game.
"I was so happy, he smiled to us and he gave us all the best and so happy for him. I can't wait to visit him.
"He's a lovely guy, so happy. He had a few jokes and wished us all the best.
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"He's the top scorer for West Ham, one of the best West Ham have had.
"This was great we saw him today, I wish him all the best.
West Ham fans pay emotional tribute to Michail Antonio with ninth-minute applause
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Michail Antonio’s incredible rise
By Jon Boon
The outpouring of love from the football community for Michael Antonio has been massive, with the striker recognised as a big character in the game.
The Wandsworth-born forward started from humble beginnings - playing for non-league Tooting & Mitcham United.
After impressing in 2008, he was offered a trial at Reading - some five divisions up - and Alan Pardew duly snapped him up.
However, he later revealed he got kicked out by Tooting, after he refused to sign a contract.
Antonio said: "They kicked me out because I refused to sign a contract.
“I was like: ‘If someone comes in for me I don't want to be tied down. I want to be able to go and not you out price me’."
Following spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest, in 2015 he was plucked from the Championship in a £7million deal by West Ham.
He's been there ever since, winning a player of the year award, twice being named Premier League player of the month and lifting a European trophy.
Away from football, Antonio has bravely opened up about his mental health struggles in recent times.
The Jamaica international was recently asked by Gary Lineker on the Rest is Football podcast what he would like to do when he retires from the game.
He revealed: "I want to go into entertainment.
"So more on the basis of A League of Their Own, Play to the Whistle…"
Read more about Michail Antonio's incredible rise and life away from the game.
"These things happen, but hopefully he will be even better soon."
Soucek, 29, opened the scoring with a header and dedicated his goal to his team-mate and showed nine fingers in reference to Antonio's shirt number.
He added: "I dedicated it to him, I said to myself that I want to score even more today.
"Antonio has been here since I came and he's been my favourite.
"It's tough not to play a long time without him. This is for him, he's a massive player and he's in my heart.
"It was really tough. I was with the kids and I saw the information on my phone.
"I messaged everyone what I could on how he is. I wish him all the best, I was so scared as to what was going to happen."
Mohammed Kudus made his own salute to Antonio as he scored and celebrated with his stool while also handing a shirt with the star's name on the advertising board.
However, the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR check.
Matt Doherty equalised for the visitors in the 69th minute.
However, West Hame star Jarrod Bowen fired in the winning goal just two minutes later.
The captain made his own tribute to Antonio as he held up the forward's shirt towards the stands.
The whole team were involved in a tribute to their team-mate before kick-off as they warmed up in shirts with "Antonio" on the back.
The whole crowd in the stadium rose to their feet in the 9th minute to applaud the Jamaica international.
The victory would have eased some pressure on Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui, with the club now nine points from the bottom three.
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Reports had claimed that former Chelsea boss Graham Potter is open to replacing the Spaniard should he be sacked at the London Stadium.
After the full-time whistle emotions boiled over as a huge brawl broke out after a disagreement between Bowen and Mario Lemina.
Lopetegui dedicates win to Antonio
Julen Lopetegui dedicated West Ham's win over Wolves to star Michail Antonio.
He said: "Mick is a very special player, a special guy, we love him a lot and we are very happy to be able to dedicate this victory to him.
"It has been a tough few days for a lot of reasons. Today we are happy because we achieved three important points.
"It was a very difficult match, as all the matches in the Premier League are, and we overcame different moments in disallowing the goals.
"We had a lot of shots, the first very clear chances we had in the first half we didn't take advantage of - we did the same against Leicester and in the end we lost.
"Today after we started winning, making it 2-0 was more or less key, so the disallowed goal and them equalising was a trigger moment to be strong in our mentality. I think we did that.
"I am happy for the players to have the possibility to dedicate this victory to Mick and his family. They deserve this."
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