- Cheikhou Kouyate says he will do anything to help West Ham United win
- Senegal star has played in three different positions for the Hammers since mid-December
- No8 is delighted that teammate Sofiane Feghouli has found form in recent weeks
Cheikhou Kouyate says he will do anything to help West Ham United win.
The No8 has become the Hammers’ Mr Versatile in recent weeks, playing at centre-half, right-back and in his favoured central midfield role since mid-December.
While he would clearly prefer to start every game in the engine room, Kouyate is not about to start knocking on Slaven Bilic’s door and complaining.
“If you’re a player and you are injured for a few weeks, it’s very frustrating, so thank God I’m feeling good.
“I know I am known as our Mr Versatile at the moment, but I don’t really like this title! Every time we don’t have a left-back, I play at left-back and every time we don’t have a right-back, I play at right-back, which is very hard!
“I prefer to play in midfield, but every time I play, whether it is there or at full-back, I will give everything for the team. I play for the team and not for myself.”
Kouyate is set to make his 100th appearance in Claret and Blue in the Premier League fixture at Watford a week on Saturday.
The popular African has again been a central figure for West Ham this season, starting 20 of the Club’s 25 Premier League fixtures and scoring the first-ever goal at London Stadium against NK Domzale of Slovenia back in August.
Two-and-a-half years after moving to east London from Belgian giants RSC Anderlecht, the 27-year-old enjoys being an important member of Bilic’s side.
I prefer to play in midfield, but every time I play, whether it is there or at full-back, I will give everything for the team. I play for the team and not for myself
Cheikhou Kouyate
“This is my life, this is my Club and I want to enjoy every game I play and to help my teammates. We have a very, very, very good team spirit at the moment and every time I step onto the training field or onto the pitch, I give my best for the team.
“I never, never look for ways which are good for Kouyate, but instead I always look for what is best for the team. This is my philosophy.
“The last few weeks have been good for the team. We have worked hard because we needed some points after losing a lot of games and points.
“We lost two points at home to West Brom, and we know why we lost them, so we will stay strong and work hard because we need to put some more points on the board.”
Another player who will help West Ham to do just that is Kouyate’s fellow African Sofiane Feghouli, who has hit a rich vein of form since forcing his way into the team on Boxing Day.
With two goals and two assists, the Algerian has settled into life in English football after a hamstring injury ruined the early part of his Hammers career. Kouyate, for one, is delighted for the No7.
“Sofiane had a very difficult start to the season but now he is doing very, very good,” he observed. “Now, he is playing and he is scoring goals, and every player needs to be playing to be happy.
“I am happy for him and have my fingers crossed for him that he doesn’t suffer another injury and continues to score.
“We have many important players in the team and now Andre is back and I’m back, so that’s not bad for the team. We are not looking back, but only looking forward to what is possible. We need to work hard, stay humble and play as a team.”