Joe & Carlton Cole gush over West Ham defender Kurt Zouma
Joe and Carlton Cole have gushed over West Ham defender Kurt Zouma and the impact he has on his teammates in the dressing room.
The France international passed a late fitness test to be involved in the Hammers’ Europa League semi-final first leg against Eintracht Frankfurt.
The BT Sport duo raved over his attitude and experience, insisting every single member of David Moyes’ squad can learn from the defender.
J. Cole told BT Sport [April 28, 19:20]: “Kurt Zouma has been outstanding since he has been here, he gives them that Champions League experience.
C. Cole added: “When you are in the changing room with one of your teammates who has won the Champions League, played in Europe numerous times you start to think ‘you know what I’ve got a bit of confidence from him’.
“You ask him questions – how is it when you get to this stage? What should I do? You have to do it you have to pick his brain because he’s experienced.
“He hasn’t come in with the billy big boy attitude, he wants to help the younger players.”
All to play for.
Having Zouma back for the first leg was a huge boost.
You hope Moyes didn’t take too much of a risk with the Frenchman because he was moving very gingerly towards the end of the game and it would be a devastating blow for him to be sidelined for any longer – especially with the crucial second leg next week.
The Hammers had plenty of opportunities to win the game and they will be gutted that they weren’t more clinical in front of goal like the Germans were down the other end.
The performance should give them a lot of confidence though because on another day they could have beaten the Bundesliga side comfortably.
With that being said, Frankfurt posed their own threat throughout the game which Moyes will have to try and resolve ahead of the second leg.
It is still all to play for but the Irons have to be slightly better in every department if they want to advance into the final away from home.
In other West Ham news, a BBC pundit has slammed Moyes’ harsh criticism of one key West Ham man.
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