- Sofiane Feghouli was delighted to net the Hammers’ equaliser against Burnley on Sunday
- It was the Algerian’s first goal since his London Stadium strike against West Brom in February
- The winger said to score was a boost for his confidence
Sofiane Feghouli was delighted to score West Ham United’s opener in their 2-1 win over Burnley on Sunday and admitted finding the back of the net at Turf Moor was a confidence boost.
The winger equalised just before the half hour mark at the weekend, finishing off a delightful Hammers move that culminated in Andre Ayew flicking the ball neatly through for Feghouli to finish.
Sam Vokes had previously given Sean Dyche’s Clarets the lead minutes before but Ayew went on to score a second half winner for the Hammers to end the season on a high.
Feghouli had not scored for the Hammers since his London Stadium equaliser against West Bromwich Albion in February, and was therefore thrilled to have taken his tally for the season to four on the last day.
“For me to score was good for my confidence and also good for the team,” the winger said. “I think we showed that we are capable of a nice style of football with lots of combination play.
“I think that we also showed our spirit. First of all, before the match, it was important to win to end on a high, so we knew that we had to give everything to leave the fans with a positive image.
The fact that I was starting gave me even more motivation. To score, for me, was important and it was a nice way to end the season.
Sofiane Feghouli
“For me, the fact that I was starting gave me even more motivation. To score, for me, was important, and it was a nice way to end the season.”
Feghouli made 27 appearances in Claret and Blue during his first season in English football having signed from Spanish giants Valencia last summer and believes he has learned plenty over the course of the campaign.
“First of all, the Premier League is a very different style of football to what I have experienced in La Liga, the Champions League and World Cups,” he continued.
“Unfortunately, I was affected by some physical problems earlier in the season but that’s football and I’ll take what I’ve learned this year to improve for next season.
“I’d like to thank all of the West Ham supporters for the messages they’ve been sending me on social media. It’s important for the players to know that they are supported in this way.
“I’d also like to thank the Algerian fans around the world who continue to support me through the good and bad moments. I think it’s very important that we say thank you to them today.
“This summer, I’m hoping that I’ll be called for upcoming matches with Algeria. If I am called up, I’ll go away on holiday with my family after the national team matches.”