West Ham United have been improving defensively week-on-week. The streak continued as the Hammer secured their second clean sheet in three Premier League games in 0-0 draw with AFC Bournemouth. Whilst the team couldn’t get the ideal winner they would have liked, the defensive performance represented a serious improvement.
Soungoutou Magassa was brought back into the team, replacing the suspended Freddie Potts. The midfielder was not just happy to be back in the West Ham side, but happy to be playing alongside his countryman, Axel Disasi. The Frenchman told the club’s official website that the defender is a great addition, and understands why the team has improved with him in it:
“Axel is a very good player,” the 22-year-old said of his former and now current teammate. “He’s a very good man. He works hard. He stays focused. He’s a very good player.
“I played with him in Monaco and he was one of the best defenders in the league. He’s very strong. He won every duel, he was very good with the ball and he helped us a lot.”
The French connection
Disasi was part of the Monaco team when an 18-year-old Magassa made his debut for the club. In duo would play together a total of three times in their native country, before the defender made the move to Chelsea in the summer of 2023.
Saturday’s game against Bournemouth was the first time to two have started a game with each other for the Hammers. The 22-year-old midfielder was happy that the French connection had helped his side to a clean sheet, but acknowledges more is needed if the team want to stay up.
“We had a lot of chances to score, but we didn’t score,” Magassa observed. “Everyone is a little bit disappointed, but we need to continue like that and we will see what happens.
“The team are much, much better [defensively] than in the beginning of the season and we need to continue like that. We will train hard to stay like that and we need to push again and again and again to win some games.
“We are confident. The team are good. We work a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot in the training. Everybody stays focused. Everybody wants to win. Nobody want to lose some games. We need to push up to stay like that.”
West Ham’s defensive midfield
Magassa was brought back into the West Ham by Nuno Espirito Santo to replace the suspended Potts. 22-year-old Potts has kept the French midfielder out of the side, with Mateus Fernandes looking like he is playing his best football over the last few games, making it difficult to make it into the team.
Soungoutou Magassa’s 2025/26 West Ham United Statistics
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 18 | 1 | 1 |
Things have been easy for Magassa, in terms of first team football, this season, but the 22-year-old is determined to show his worth, even if he is disappointed for his teammate, Potts.
“I’m happy to play,” he confirmed. “I want to play. I’ll give my best when I play. I haven’t played in a long time but yes, I’m happy.
“All the players are ready to play. Now, Freddie will take the red card and I’m disappointed for him but yes, we need to push everyone to play, and I’m ready.
“I want to give my best for everything.”
