Four days after leaving the pitch at St James’ Park with disappointment written all over his face, Kurt Zouma was smiling again after leading West Ham United to a hard-fought 1-1 Premier League draw with local rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
The captain was Man of the Match on a wet Tuesday evening at London Stadium, scoring the Hammers’ equaliser by converting Jarrod Bowen’s corner to cancel out Brennan Johnson’s early opener for the visitors, before making a game-high eight clearances to keep Spurs at bay.
The Frenchman led by example as the Irons produced a team performance that provided a strong response following Saturday’s second-half collapse at Newcastle United, and a result that kept West Ham seventh in the Premier League table and in the hunt for European qualification.
Speaking to West Ham TV, the No4 was pleased to have played his part in earning his team a point that may yet prove vital come the season’s end, and a display that will give the team confidence going into a run of games against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Fulham and Crystal Palace.
Kurt, the team responded well tonight after the second half at Newcastle?
“Yes, there was a big reaction needed after a big disappointment at the weekend, so we had to react for ourselves and for the fans as well, especially at home in a London derby. We knew it was going to be tough, but the way we played tonight showed the character the team has a as a family, like I say, all going the same way, and we want to keep going.”
There was big noise and a good atmosphere at kick-off?
“There was a good atmosphere and our fans made it tough for them, I would say. They helped us a lot. As a team there was a lot of talk in the dressing room between the last game and this one and we had to react and I think we did well. We conceded the first goal but then we kept the belief and we kept going and managed to get back in the game. We could maybe have won it at the end, but it is what it is. It was fifty-fifty, a good game to watch, very intense and now we have to rest and get ready for the next one.”
Tell us about your goal – it looked like you put it in the net with your back?!
“I’m not sure, but the most important thing is that I put the ball in! I think it hit my head and the my shoulder, but the most important thing was that the ball went in!”
Your celebration was very intense too. You had your game-face on?
“We were one-nil down and coming back into the game and I knew it was big, especially early. We wanted to win this one, a London derby, and get the three points after the weekend. Even a point is good, but we just need to win at the weekend [at Wolves]. It’s going to be tough, but we have to prepare for it.”
Everyone likes to see peak Zouma, who is unbeatable in his own penalty box, and we saw some peak Zouma tonight?
“We saw eleven players fighting for each other like a family, like I always say. That’s what we take from the game today.”
Is anyone playing better than Jarrod Bowen in the Premier League at the moment?
“He’s been like this for many years now. He’s a big threat scoring goals and assisting goals, and we’ve also got Mo, Lucas and Mick in our front four doing a great job. They’re helping us so much with their goals and we need to keep feeding them and keep helping them and hopefully they’ll keep going until the end of the season.”
Finally, you have said many times that we are family and one member of our family, Kalvin Phillips, needs our support at the moment, and you and everyone at the Club wants to support him and see the best from him…
“We know how good he is. We all know the quality that he has and he’s a brother to us. He’s going through a period when he’s been very unlucky, but this is football and everybody has to support him and hopefully he will get back to his best as soon as possible. He’s working hard every day, as everyone sees him, and he always keeps a smile on which we like. He’s a very good guy and we love him in the dressing room and we have to help him as well. He’s a quality player and he will show it, no problem.”
