Mouhamed Diamé, the Senegalese midfielder who plays for West Ham in England, shared his thoughts in an interview after the team’s training session at the September 28 stadium in Conakry, Guinea. Here are some highlights from the interview:
On Arriving in Guinea: Diamé mentioned that the team arrived the day before, had a training session directly upon arrival, and continued with sessions the next day. Everything was going well.
On the State of the Pitch: He acknowledged that the pitch was currently high, but he believed it would get back to normal before the match, and he didn’t anticipate complications.
On Facing Angola: Diamé clarified that it wasn’t about revenge but rather maintaining their position as the group leaders. They aimed to secure three points in the upcoming match.
On Differences Between Club and National Team Play: He explained that the style of play and his role were different between his club and the national team. At the national level, Senegal had a strong offensive lineup, and his role adjusted accordingly. He expressed confidence in adapting to the team’s needs.
On Missing the Last West Ham Match: Diamé dismissed it as not necessarily a small problem and noted that it happens, emphasizing his focus on the upcoming challenges.
On Establishing Himself in the National Team: He explained that when he joined the national team, there were already established players, and he arrived somewhat cautiously. However, over time, the group dynamics improved, and he felt very good in the current team.
On Past Disappointments: Diamé acknowledged past disappointments, particularly the premature elimination in Bata at CAN 2012, but emphasized the need to focus on stringing together victories to restore confidence in the Senegal team.
On Captaincy: Regarding the possibility of being reappointed captain, Diamé downplayed its importance, stating that victories were more critical at the moment to build confidence and silence critics.
On Playing in Hot Conditions: He acknowledged the heat in Conakry but stated that they had no choice but to adapt. Some players in the team already played in hot countries, and they would do their best to adjust.
On Playing Away from Home: Diamé mentioned that the team had experience playing important matches away from home, emphasizing the importance of being ready and achieving victory to move forward.
