The tried and tested midfield partnership Edson Álvarez and Guido Rodríguez will provide one strong foundation on which West Ham United’s chances of success this season will be built.
Álvarez and Rodríguez know each other and each other’s games better than almost anyone else’s, having lined up together nearly 80 times, first for Mexican club América and, since the latter arrived in east London in August, West Ham.
In Mexico, the double pivot they provided played a major part in América winning the Liga MX Apertura in 2018 and Copa MX Clausura in 2019, protecting the back four with their tough tackling, timely interceptions and shot blocking, and setting their team on the attack with their accurate, incisive passing.
Reunited five years after Álvarez departed for Ajax, the Mexico national-team captain and Argentina FIFA World Cup winner teamed up again for the first time at Crystal Palace, where they helped the Hammers see out a 2-0 win.
After starting together in the defeat by Manchester City and draw at Fulham, the two Latinos are targeting another Premier League victory when Chelsea visit London Stadium this Saturday afternoon.
“I’m really happy to be playing in this league,” said Rodríguez, who joined from Spanish club Betis after four seasons in La Liga. “I think it's a very competitive league, every game is tough and that's what makes it so appealing.
“Having watched it when I was a little boy in Argentina and now being able to play here, it’s great to achieve that goal.”
While the No24 settles into life in a new league and new country, he is being helped to do so by Álvarez, and the respect between the two old friends and teammates is evident when Rodríguez is asked to talk about his midfield partner.
“I think he has grown a lot from when he started at América, where we played together, then going to Ajax. I'm sure he learned a lot, and now he’s a big player here at West Ham. He’s really important for us, for the whole team.
“I think he has grown a lot and he’s still improving. He’s got much more to give to West Ham and to his national team and to achieve his own goals, because he’s doing really well and he’s got the potential to be even better.
“He’s still young – younger than me!”
Álvarez, who is four years Rodríguez’s junior at 26, believes the pair can thrive again in Claret and Blue, and that their heritage means they have the perfect character and mindset to do so.
“It was a really lovely surprise [to find out Guido was joining us],” he explained. “To begin with, there were no other Latinos on the team. And who better to join me than an old friend, right? I’m really happy to have him here.
“From the start, he’s known that he can count on me for whatever he needs. And I think we’ll start to see more of each other off the pitch because now we’re living close by.
“I think that's what we Latinos do, right? Together, we make each other stronger, we grow, we want to push forward. I think that’s always been our mentality.
“And ever since I played with Guido at América, I always saw him as a great example because he’s very professional and a great guy. I appreciate that a lot.”
Álvarez and Rodríguez will team up for the 79th time when West Ham host Chelsea at London Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday at 12.30pm. The derby match will be broadcast live in the UK by TNT Sports and across the world by the Premier League’s international broadcast partners.
