Defender Maximilian Kilman knows how it feels to enjoy a long cup run - and that experience only enhances his wish to go all the way with West Ham United this season.
Our No3 helped fire our Carabao Cup second-round opponents, Wolverhampton Wanderers, to the FA Cup semi-finals in 2018/19 and Carabao Cup quarter-finals in 2022/23.
Kilman admits it will be strange to be back at Molineux as a member of the visiting team when the Hammers travel to the West Midlands, having spent six seasons at Wolves before leaving for the Hammers in July 2024, but feels the decision to move to east London has already been justified.
It will not be his first time facing his former club at Molineux, having completed the full 90 minutes against Vítor Pereira’s charges in a 1-0 Premier League defeat in April, and Kilman knows the Old Gold will provide a tough challenge again on Tuesday evening.
“I’m looking forward to going back to Molineux,” Kilman confirmed. “Wolves were a big part of my career and played a big part in my success, so it’s definitely going to be strange, and it’s going to be a tough game.
“It’s going to be a great game and will be a difficult atmosphere to play against, but now my job is to ensure the best for West Ham United.
“We're going there to win the game and try to get through to the next round, and hopefully after we win and progress to the next round, I’ll be able to catch up with a few familiar faces.
“I experienced getting to the semi-finals [of the FA Cup] when I first came to Wolves, and we also got to the quarter-finals of this competition in 2022/23, so now I'm hoping that with West Ham we can get as far as we can and hopefully to the end.
“I think we've got the ability to have a good cup run, and for me, I think it's really important to make sure you do well in cup competitions. It’s an opportunity to perform, to build momentum and to win games, and it can help push us on in our Premier League form.”
After joining the Old Gold as a 21-year-old from non-league Maidenhead United in the summer of 2018, Kilman made 151 appearances for Wolves.
The mixed emotions Kilman will feel on his return to the Molineux are understandable given he began his professional career there.
Naturally it would have been difficult to leave after six years, but it is a decision that has been justified, with Kilman yet to miss a game since arriving in east London 13 months ago.
The 28-year-old captained Wolves and is now a senior member of the West Ham squad. He is grateful for the trust and belief shown in him by Head Coach Graham Potter.
“It's been just over a year now since I arrived at the Club, and although it was a tough decision, I'm so happy I've made the decision,” he confirmed. “I've still got a lot of time here to make sure I get better and keep improving as a player and as a team. I feel as if I’ve really grown as a player both on and off the pitch, and I've enjoyed the challenge.
"There's a lot more to improve, a lot more I want to get better at as a player, so I'm just hoping to get my head down and keep improving.
“One of our main focuses at the start of this pre-season was to change the environment, to change the atmosphere, and that's improved.
“The manager helps us all every day, and I think he has done an incredible job. He’s been brilliant with me from the first day he arrived, and the main thing I think I've improved a lot is my leadership off the pitch.
“I think he and his staff have really helped me push that as a player, and we have daily meetings to go through different things to improve everyone, and I think those things, for me as a centre-back, are really, really important.
“They knew exactly what I needed to get better at, and it’s something I really wanted to focus on, so I think you can only say positive things.
“I’m at the age now where I've probably played more games in the Premier League than some of the other players in the squad, so I think it's normal for someone to have a bit more leadership and step up.
“We lost a lot of the big characters, a lot of experienced players in the summer, so it was time for the players that are here to take that step up, and I think I'm one of them where I needed to step up with the leadership, and this is something we all need to improve and keep getting better at.”
Tuesday's tie will be broadcast live in the UK on SkySports+, kicking off at 7.30pm BST. You can follow the action via our live blog on whufc.com and our app, and across our social media channels. We will also have a match report, highlights and exclusive reaction for you after the final whistle on our website and social media.
