Grady Diangana is determined to make the most of his opportunity in the West Ham United first team after standing out in recent weeks.
The 20-year-old was awarded another start by Manuel Pellegrini on Wednesday as the Hammers were beaten 3-1 by Tottenham Hotspur, ending the side’s journey in the Carabao Cup.
Despite the result, Diangana was a bright spark for the home side, playing the full 90 minutes and impressing on the flank for the Hammers.
The boss has given me the opportunity to play, and I want to grasp every moment I can.
Grady Diangana
“It was a tough game,” he reflected on the result. “We just lacked the final pass and the final finish in the final third.
“Personally, I think I did okay. It was just finding the last bit, to find the goal, which was missing.”
Having scored twice on his debut in the last Carabao Cup match – an 8-0 win over Macclesfield Town – the winger has since played against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, and made his first league start away to Leicester City at the weekend.
Diangana’s showings have earned the Academy graduate high praise, but the player himself is focusing on his football rather than the plaudits he is getting.
He continued: “I just focus on the football. I just want to keep playing. The boss has given me the opportunity to play, and I want to grasp every moment I can. I’ve just got to take every step one at a time. Every day in training, and every match.
“I think, for me, this has come at the right moment. I’m feeling very calm and I’m taking each moment as it comes. I try to assess each situation to make the best out of each one.”
Diangana is relishing the responsibility of playing for the senior side, particularly the experience of featuring at London Stadium, in front of thousands of West Ham United supporters.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” he added. “When the fans start to cheer, you can feel it in your skin. It’s such a loud atmosphere at London Stadium. It’s just amazing.”