Alphonse Areola
Alphonse Areola was announced by West Ham on Thursday afternoon and here is every word the Hammers number 13 said on his unveiling.
Alphonse Areola said: “I’m happy, for me it was the best opportunity to sign for this club, to sign for West Ham and to give my best to try to help the team. London is a great place to live and to work as well, and obviously the Premier League is one of the best leagues in the world so I really enjoyed it last season. It was tough for me and for the team [Fulham], but I enjoyed playing in the Premier League. We were without the fans, but this year we will have the fans back so I can’t wait to see the atmosphere. I played last year in the London Stadium it was empty but huge so I can’t imagine when the supporters will be back and I think they will be a big part of our success as well. I am happy to be here to be in the Premier League, to feel this atmosphere and see the supporters in the stadium. So I can’t wait to see the supporters in the stadium. I think the first thing is to think about the team. Obviously, the manager will take the decisions and we will have to respect them and to work and help the team. That’s the main thing, to try to help the team and be the best. I won trophies, but I am here to try and help to give my best every day in training and of course when you’re in competitions like the Premier League, the Europa League and the cups, you have to give your best every day and in every game to win titles. The ambitions of the club are here and I’m going to give my best to try to reach that. I watched games last season so I know the potential and talent in this squad, so I can’t wait to start. I watched games last season so I know the potential and the talent in this squad, so I can’t wait to start. I’m still young for a goalkeeper, obviously, but to be one of the best you have to work every day even if you have your background. You have to keep pushing, keep training and keep working so that’s my aim for my time at West Ham, so let’s start this season and we will see. My first day was yesterday [Wednesday] so I did my medical stuff and straight away when I came in I felt the club is one of the clubs that will be important in the league. We are important, but even more this season especially in Europa League, so I’m going to give my best in training and be ready for the games.”
