We speak with the Hammers No8 after he puts pen-to-paper on a new long-term deal
Cheikhou Kouyate joined the list of West Ham United players to commit their long-term future to the Club on Friday when he put pen-to-paper on a new five-year deal.
The Senegal midfielder is excited at the prospect of playing an integral role as the Hammers look to establish themselves at the top end of the Barclays Premier League in the Stadium on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
More immediately, he also has ambitions of getting his hands on silverware this term…
Congratulations on signing the new deal, Cheikhou. What is your reaction?
CK: “I am happy to have renewed my contract with West Ham. I am very happy and would like to thank everybody here at the club, the manager, the fans and also my parents. I think that it is the start of the next chapter for us to go on and discover the new Stadium.”
What was the main reason for agreeing to extend your contract?
CK: “It means that the Club trusts me and that means a lot for me. There is a lot of work for me still to do and I need to continue working hard and prepare for the move to the Olympic Stadium and most of all to keep on entertaining the fans.
“We know that this is the last season here at Upton Park and that this summer we leave behind this stadium, but I am really excited to begin the next year with my team. I am delighted to have signed the contract which allows to play a part in this project.”
How excited are you to play in front of 54,000 West Ham fans next season?
CK: “Even when playing at Upton Park, I get excited by the support the fans give us. It is the same when we play away from home too, they are always there for us. At Manchester United this weekend, there were around 10,000 fans and their support sent shivers down my spine. So now, imagining the new stadium, when we will have over 50,000 fans behind us, it is just going to be magnificent.”
Do you feel like you have a special relationship with the fans?
CK: “It is incredible with the fans. I have never seen that in my career, the fans here really are magnificent. I often speak with Dimitri and we are both really impressed by the fans here.”
The Senegal midfielder is excited at the prospect of playing an integral role as the Hammers look to establish themselves at the top end of the Barclays Premier League in the Stadium on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
More immediately, he also has ambitions of getting his hands on silverware this term…
Congratulations on signing the new deal, Cheikhou. What is your reaction?
CK: “I am happy to have renewed my contract with West Ham. I am very happy and would like to thank everybody here at the club, the manager, the fans and also my parents. I think that it is the start of the next chapter for us to go on and discover the new Stadium.”
What was the main reason for agreeing to extend your contract?
CK: “It means that the Club trusts me and that means a lot for me. There is a lot of work for me still to do and I need to continue working hard and prepare for the move to the Olympic Stadium and most of all to keep on entertaining the fans.
“We know that this is the last season here at Upton Park and that this summer we leave behind this stadium, but I am really excited to begin the next year with my team. I am delighted to have signed the contract which allows to play a part in this project.”
How excited are you to play in front of 54,000 West Ham fans next season?
CK: “Even when playing at Upton Park, I get excited by the support the fans give us. It is the same when we play away from home too, they are always there for us. At Manchester United this weekend, there were around 10,000 fans and their support sent shivers down my spine. So now, imagining the new stadium, when we will have over 50,000 fans behind us, it is just going to be magnificent.”
Do you feel like you have a special relationship with the fans?
CK: “It is incredible with the fans. I have never seen that in my career, the fans here really are magnificent. I often speak with Dimitri and we are both really impressed by the fans here.”
I am happy to have renewed my contract with West Ham. I am very happy and would like to thank everybody here at the club, the manager, the fans and also my parents
On the pitch, how have you grown as a player?
CK: “It is my second year in England. I used last year as a year to learn and I think that I learnt a lot from Sam. This year, we have had a new manager in Slaven and he has helped me a lot. He has helped me to open up my game and I think that working with him will allow me to improve a lot more as a player.
What has been the highlight of your West Ham career so far?
CK: “I want to keep that to myself because we really want to go right to the end of the FA Cup this year. I take pleasure from every game that I play in a West Ham shirt and we really want to win the Cup. We have two finals before the final. First of all, we will give our all to beat Manchester United at home. Then if we manage that, it will be at Wembley and I am really striving to win this cup with West Ham and to try to guarantee a place in Europe for us for next season.”
How much has the manager helped you?
CK: “He has really helped me and he is a coach that is really close to his players. He speaks to us a lot and personally, he speaks to me a lot and he has freed my game up. He is a coach that can take us forward and I am really pleased to be working with him. “
What are your hopes now for yourself and for West Ham?
CK: “We have our project here and I will be trying to lead West Ham as far as I possibly can. Within a few years, I think you will see us playing our football at the highest level possible.”
CK: “It is my second year in England. I used last year as a year to learn and I think that I learnt a lot from Sam. This year, we have had a new manager in Slaven and he has helped me a lot. He has helped me to open up my game and I think that working with him will allow me to improve a lot more as a player.
What has been the highlight of your West Ham career so far?
CK: “I want to keep that to myself because we really want to go right to the end of the FA Cup this year. I take pleasure from every game that I play in a West Ham shirt and we really want to win the Cup. We have two finals before the final. First of all, we will give our all to beat Manchester United at home. Then if we manage that, it will be at Wembley and I am really striving to win this cup with West Ham and to try to guarantee a place in Europe for us for next season.”
How much has the manager helped you?
CK: “He has really helped me and he is a coach that is really close to his players. He speaks to us a lot and personally, he speaks to me a lot and he has freed my game up. He is a coach that can take us forward and I am really pleased to be working with him. “
What are your hopes now for yourself and for West Ham?
CK: “We have our project here and I will be trying to lead West Ham as far as I possibly can. Within a few years, I think you will see us playing our football at the highest level possible.”