sport news Michail Antonio hints West Ham's Conference League celebrations could last ... trends now
West Ham's party raged through the night in Prague after their Europa Conference League triumph, and all the way back to London for a parade through the streets with centre forward Michail Antonio predicting it could go on for three weeks.
It all started on the pitch in the Fortuna Arena, where they danced with the trophy lifted by captain Declan Rice and celebrated with their families for more than an hour after beating Fiorentina 2-1, thanks to a 90th-minute winner by Jarrod Bowen.
'Unbelievable,' said Antonio. 'Nobody wanted to leave.' Once back inside the dressing rooms, they pumped up the music and cracked open the beers. 'There was a bit of everything,' said Antonio. 'A bit of dancing, a bit of drinking, a bit of something I cannot say! It has been a pleasure, obviously.'
Boss David Moyes took a brief moment to address his players and staff. 'The gaffer said thank you, thank you for everything, thank you for the title,' smiled fullback Emerson Palmieri. Then Moyes unleashed one of his now-infamous Dad dances to the song by the Proclaimers about walking 500 miles.
Heineken can raised in one hand, clicking the fingers of the other as he shimmied around in the centre of the room, his players clapping and singing along to the dut-de-de-ders in the chorus. 'Good, for a Scotsman,' was Emerson's verdict.
West Ham spent more than an hour on the pitch celebrating their historic Europa Conference League victory
David Moyes led the celebrations by showcasing his dance moves in the dressing room
Michail Antonio, who shared clips of West Ham's celebrations from inside their hotel late on Wednesday night, hinted that the party could last 'three weeks'
It was almost two in the morning, four hours after the final whistle, by the time the players started to file out, goalkeeper Alphonse Areola swinging an enormous speaker with his beats booming out around the concrete bowels of the stadium.
'The DJ is always Declan,' explained Emerson. 'After that, Lucas Paqueta as well. In this moment, everyone wants to be the DJ, everyone wants to dance, enjoy it. We are happy, of course. We enjoy the night.'
Workers were dismantling the stands and stripping UEFA signage from the walls as they climbed aboard the team bus and left the venue. 'I don't see it ending,' said Antonio. 'We have got a party to go to and see the families. And now the season is over and it won't end for a good three weeks for me.'
