Enner Valencia is arguably in the best form he has shown in a West Ham United shirt.
Fully recovered from the high ankle sprain which ruled him out earlier this season, and with fellow forwards Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho nursing their own injuries, the No11 has risen to the challenge of becoming the Hammers’ first-choice centre forward.
Two wonderful goals in the thrilling Barclays Premier League victory at AFC Bournemouth – one a volley and the other a wickedly dipping free-kick – were followed by two more in Saturday’s rollercoaster 2-2 draw at home to Manchester City.
With West Ham sitting sixth in the table with 15 games to play and looking forward to Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup fourth-round trip to Liverpool, whufc.com continued Enner Valencia Week by chatting to our outstanding Ecuador international.
Enner, with four goals in your last three matches, do you feel like you are in top form?
“Yes, I am very pleased to be among the goals again and have been able to help the team. I am feeling fully fit and I have a lot of confidence, so it is a bit of everything as to why I am feeling so good. All these things help! I feel very happy at the moment. I have had to cope with two very difficult injuries but now I’m fully fit and doing all I can to help the team.”
It is a cliché, but are we now seeing the ‘real’ Enner Valencia, the ‘real’ Superman, as you are known in your homeland?
“Maybe they are! Obviously in terms of my goals and helping the team stay as high we can in the league, I feel I am doing well, but I can be giving more to the team in the future.”
You have been playing as a No9, as our centre forward. Are you enjoying that position?
“Yes, that’s the position I really enjoy playing in and of course I am much nearer to the goal, so that makes it much easier to score goals.”
We have seen the full repertoire of goals from you in recent matches – a volley, a free-kick and a couple of first-time finishes…
“The free-kick was a goal I have been wanting to score since last season, then there was the volley and obviously the goal against Manchester City where I managed to hold off the defender Nicolas Otamendi. I am happy with them and I hope there are lots more to come.”
Can you explain the technique you used for the free-kick at Bournemouth, because the ball was travelling so quickly and dipped so sharply…
“Yes, it is a technique I have seen Cristiano Ronaldo use many times, and also Juninho Pernambucano who played for Lyon for many seasons. I have been trying and trying and it finally came off against Bournemouth. You have to hit the ball the centre of the ball with the point of your toes. It’s about the angle you hit the ball and getting it up and down very quickly. Thank God it worked against Bournemouth. You must hit the middle of the football and that way it goes up and down very quickly.”
For the second goal against Manchester City, we also saw your strength?
“Yes, it all happened very quickly. Michail Antonio threw the ball over the top of their defence and I managed to get my body in front and hold off the defender Otamendi and put the ball away.”
You have won trophies with Emelec and scored lots of goals for Pachuca, but Is this the best club side you have played in?
“Maybe. We have been in great form and are beating some top teams and are near the top of the Premier League, so we’re doing very well. It is fantastic playing in the team as players like Dimitri Payet, because of course he is a wonderful teammate to have. You know he can play you in with one pass and it’s my job to make the most of that.”
Can we finish the season in the top six?
“Of course the best scenario would be to finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League, so of course we’re putting in all the hard work we can and we hope we can finish in the Champions League position.”
Finally, we have an FA Cup fourth round tie at Liverpool on Saturday. We have beaten them twice in the Premier League, so can we make it a memorable hat-trick?
“Yes, we have beaten them in the last two games we have played them, but every game with Liverpool is different and we know this one will be very difficult, so we have to concentrate if we want to get the win.”