Alphonse Areola says his side have learned a lot from recent results and is confident of a return to winning ways at Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.
The Hammers are set to face Nuno Espírito Santo’s Forest at 3pm, seeking a first Premier League victory in six games and a first win at the City Ground since a 4-1 EFL Championship success in August 2011.
David Moyes’ side suffered a disappointing home defeat at the hands of title-challengers Arsenal last time out and will be looking for a strong reaction to get their European ambitions back on track in the East Midlands.
“Obviously, it was a tough day and a day to forget, but we have to move forward. We learned a lot from that game and now we have to be focused on the next game”, said the 30-year-old. “We are looking forward to the European competitions again [as the UEFA Europa League returns] and in the Premier League we’ve kept going and are trying to pick up as many points as we can so we can qualify again next season.
“When I signed for the Club, the first words were that ‘We want to be a European team’ and since then we’ve played in Europe every year so hopefully, we can achieve that objective again."
France international Areola has been a mainstay between the sticks, making a total of 21 top-flight appearances so far this campaign, and is relishing the healthy competition for his place from former Poland international Łukasz Fabiański and young stopper Joseph Anang.
He explained: “Working with Łukasz and Joseph every day is hard, and we are always trying to help each other. The goalkeeper union here is very strong and we are just trying to give our best every day in training and trying to compete for the position. The most important thing of course is the team result.”
Areola explained the mental pressures of being a goalkeeper in the modern game, when the role has become about far more than just keeping the ball out of the net.
Having conceded nine times in the previous two matches, one could understand if the goalkeeper's confidence has been affected, but with a strong season behind him, with 83 saves and four clean sheets in the Premier League, Areola is not one to shy away from his responsibilities, both as a professional footballer and as a husband and father.
“You get used to it,” he said. “We all prepare for what we have to do, and our role is to help the team on the pitch as much as you can, such as trying to stop goals and passing the ball out from the back. I don’t think everyone understands what we experience on the pitch.
“Outside of football, you have a life as well and spending time with your family and kids helps a lot when it comes to switching off that football side. It gives you the opportunity to recover and recharge so that you can give your best.”
You can follow live coverage of Saturday's fixture at the City Ground from 1.30pm on the Club's official website and app, as well as across social media channels.
