Saïd Benrahma: I'm so happy for the team


Saïd Benrahma had quite the impact on his home West Ham United debut.

Introduced with 18 minutes left on the clock against Fulham, there was still plenty to be settled with the game scoreless.

The Hammers, despite hitting the crossbar twice, needed something different to unlock a sturdy Cottagers defence, and Benrahma provided just that.

Moments after forcing a double save from away goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, the Algeria international laid on Tomáš Souček's matchwinning goal.

There was still time thereafter for Benrahma to be penalised, after a lengthy VAR check by referee Robert Jones, for a foul on Tom Cairney inside the area, but Łukasz Fabiański saved Ademola Lookman's spot kick and ensured the Hammers' new No9's home bow would be a successful one.


Said Benrahma


"I'm so happy for the team," he said. "For me, I've got my first assist too, so I'm happy. We won and that was so important for us.

"It was a difficult game, and Fulham made it tough, but we stayed solid and it was a good win in the end.

"Areola made that save from me, but that's football, sometimes you score and sometime you don't. Next time, I hope!

"And on the penalty for me it was nothing, but VAR [disagreed]. It was a big moment when Lukasz made the save."

Benrahma will now go away with his country for a pair of Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Zimbabwe and he wants to carry on building over the international break.

"These are important games for Algeria now and I hope to play. I hope we win," he added.