Nolberto Solano is looking forward to the chance of repeating his match-winning heroics of last weekend when Chelsea come calling this Saturday afternoon.
The Peruvian international came off the bench to score the only goal of the 1-0 victory at Fulham and would gladly take a similar result - especially as Chelsea were winners by the narrowest of margins when the teams last met at Stamford Bridge on 1 December. "When we played away against them, we played well. It is always difficult against Chelsea. We can't sit back for 90 minutes and wait for them as they have quality players who can score any time.
"So we have nothing to lose," Solano added. "We aren't having a bad season. Compared to last season, we are in a comfortable position. But we want to win the game. We want to try and enjoy the game. It is eleven against eleven. They are a good team. But we are at home." The midfielder was also aware of the desire from fans to see more goals from the team but recognised that the front men first needed the service.
"Our midfield has to give the chances to the strikers to create something. It is a bonus for a midfielders to score goals, but the priority is for the strikers to score, as they are in better positions. We need to improve and create more for the strikers. We can't carry on only creating two or three chances in a game, we need to do much better."
Solano's goal last weekend was his third in 13 matches for the club he joined last summer but he is hopeful of adding to that tally in the final 12 games of the campaign as well as making more for others with his renowned set-piece ability. "Sometimes it is very difficult to score in this league, as teams fight and fight for the result. But we need to improve and create more chances - we need to play better football if we want to score more goals."
The 33-year-old is a popular figure at Chadwell Heath for the youthful enthusiasm he brings to every session. Revealing that he used to work as a bus conductor as a teenager growing up in Peru - "I needed the money to go training, or if I wanted to buy new boots" - he is nothing but grateful for the opportunity he has today. "We are privileged to play in this profession compared with different people.
"That is why I have no complaints. Some people go to work at 7.30, but we start at 9.30/10 - we are here two hours. It is a wonderful profession." Of his time in England and with West Ham United, he said he always tries to tell his colleagues of how lucky they are to be using the best facilities - unlike the experiences of his youth in South America. "When you move here, everything is perfect. That is why I appreciate it. I am very glad that every day I am still playing."