Kurt Zouma is unlikely to have as tough a time against Manchester United tomorrow night (Wed) simply because Ronaldo is likely to be absent from the Reds side at Old Trafford.
Zouma looked a brilliant buy on Sunday of course and as pointed out by the London Evening Standard certainly didn’t come out second best to the 26 year old.
But in only his second game – and first Premier League outing for the Irons – it doesn’t come much tougher than that sort of confrontation but the former Chelsea man looked all set to become a major part of the new West Ham.
Tomorrow night’s game is a big chance for the Hammers to take a step towards their first trophy in 40 years and I expect a fit and firing Zouma to be part of the team.
There was one moment on Sunday when he could have set something big up for the team when striding out of the back four before being kicked up in the air by Ronaldo – not even a yellow!
And it’s that sort of stuff which becomes so infuriating but it demonstrated that there’s a huge amount to come from him regardless.
Aand it was no coincidence that Ronaldo’s goal came only after he had moved well away from Zouma.
Zouma said: “It was good, it was another battle like any battle. He is one of the best players in the world, maybe the best, and he deserves your focus all the time.”
The Standard reveales that on Sunday, Zouma made more than twice as many clearances than any other player on the pitch as well as two crucial interventions to stop Ronaldo adding to his tally.
“I think his all-around performance, his strength, he did a great job for us and we’re trying to challenge the teams getting talked about winning the Premier League. I think Kurt will help us do that.”
Zouma has settled well on and off the pitch, striking up a close bond with the French-speaking group, including international team-mate and fellow summer signing, Alphonse Areola.
“The fans were so loud. I want to make them happy, not by the result [against United] but by the way we play.”
I sincerely hope Zouma, along with the rest of the manager’s preferred starting line up, is nowhere near Old Trafford tomorrow night. The Carabao cup is a pointless distraction we could well do without.