- Arthur Masuaku pleased to play but disappointed in defeat by Leicester City
- Frenchman made his first-team return after three-and-a-half months away
- No26 says West Ham United need to remain positive and results will turn
Arthur Masuaku is sincerely hoping history will not repeat itself.
Last time the left-back was part of a team which went five league games without a win, back in spring 2014, he and Valenciennes ended the season by being relegated from France’s Ligue 1.
Masuaku moved on to Olympiacos in Greece, where he lost just five league matches in two seasons combined, before joining West Ham United in August 2016.
The Frenchman’s first campaign in east London has been disrupted by a knee injury, but the 23-year-old was back in action in Saturday’s 3-2 Premier League defeat by Leicester City.
While Masuaku was disappointed by the result, he was happy to be back in the first-team picture and is hoping to ensure Slaven Bilic’s side do not emulate his Valenciennes team of four seasons.
“It was very frustrating,” he told West Ham TV, when asked how the Hammers failed to equalise during his 20-minute appearance as a substitute against Leicester. “All these things are frustrating because in every game we are not playing our level.
“We didn’t play our level in the first half but after in the second half we stepped up. We are very disappointed because I think we should have won this game. In the second half we were much better than them but we have to be positive and win the next game.”
« We have to believe and we always have to think positive, even if the results are not with us »
The Hammers conceded three soft first-half goals against the Foxes but going forward they were a different proposition. The hosts created 20 goal attempts, including seven on target, only to find Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel in inspired form.
“Especially in the second half, we were dangerous every time we had the ball,” Masuaku observed. “We had many chances and we should have scored more, normally three or four goals, to be honest.”
“We have to believe and we always have to think positive, even if the results are not with us. One day the chance will come and we will start to win again.”
While the situation is not the same as he experienced in two seasons of dominating the Greek Super League, Masuaku says the Hammers should be confident in their ability to turn their recent indifferent form around.
“It’s not the same as in Greece, as with Olympiacos we had the best team and we played only for the victory,” he explained. “Every time we played to attack and score goals and we were dominating the championship, and every time we played against an opponent they were afraid.
“Now, it’s not the same, but I think we have a good team at West Ham, so we just have to keep working.”
Masuaku himself will keep working with the aim of dislodging Aaron Cresswell from the starting XI. Whoever gets the nod, the competition for the left-back position can only be good for the team.
“I was happy to play because it was a long time ago, December I think, since I played with the first team,” he confirmed. “I was injured for a while so it was a good feeling to play, even if it was hard because I’m not fully match-fit yet.
“It was great to be back with the team and I will try to give my best.”
Source : www.whufc.com