Ten months on from arriving in east London as a fresh-faced 18-year-old from Palmeiras, Luis Guilherme says he’s finally starting to feel fully settled and ready to show his full potential.
With just over 100 Premier League minutes under his belt, it would be harsh to judge the young winger solely based on his limited game time. But after making his full debut earlier this month at Wolverhampton Wanderers, and following it up with a bright cameo against AFC Bournemouth last weekend, Guilherme is eager to show what he can do on the biggest stage.
“I struggled a bit at the start as the football is very different,” he admitted. “I struggled to find my feet but I had players in my corner helping me a lot so I could adapt as quickly as possible. I’ve grown a lot in the last ten months.
“The competition is completely different to what I was used to in Brazil. Of course they’re both very competitive leagues, but I find that the Premier League is quicker, your decision making has to be very sharp and the intensity is higher.
“Thankfully, I’ve had Lucas [Paquetá] and Emerson take me under their wing. From the very first conversation I had with them, I’ve always tried to learn. I’m always asking them how I can improve. They’ve given me that support. I’m very grateful for everything they're doing for me.”
The first few months in England were always going to be a period of adjustment for the now 19-year-old. Competition for places was fierce, with the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Crysencio Summerville ahead of him in the pecking order on the left wing. In fact, his first outing in a West Ham United shirt came with the U21s in late September, when he inspired a second-half comeback against SL Benfica B with a goal, having trailed by two.
A senior debut followed two weeks later in a 4-1 win over Ipswich Town at London Stadium, but it would be another six months before he earned his first start, away at Wolves. Despite being withdrawn at half-time as part of a triple substitution, Guilherme didn’t let it knock his confidence. Just days later, he was ready when called upon in the closing stages against Bournemouth, and delivered what he described as his best performance so far.
He continued: “I have three highlights from my career at West Ham so far. My first appearance against Ipswich, because I’ve always dreamed about playing in the Premier League. My full debut against Wolves. Then, the game against Bournemouth. I thought I did well when I came on, I was able to build up play well with the team.
“I found out I was starting against Wolves on the day of the game, at lunch. I had a good week in training, felt confident out on the pitch and I guess it was down to that. I must say I was surprised, but of course delighted at the same time and excited to play. I have to thank God, my family, my wife, the technical team and all the staff that believed in me.”
Having shone for Brazil at youth level, often linking up with Real Madrid superstar and former Palmeiras teammate Endrick in attack, it felt like only a matter of time before Guilherme began to make his mark in England. His bright 13-minute appearance against the Cherries has certainly strengthened his case for more regular involvement, as West Ham prepare for a testing trip to Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday.
Guilherme added: “We’re really excited. It’s my first time at Anfield, and we know it’s going to be a very difficult game, against the best team in the competition. We need to show resilience and be ready to suffer together.
“When we have the ball, we have to play our game. And I’m sure that if we’re focused and confident, we can go there and win.
“We’ve been training well, and we’ll arrive on Sunday ready to compete. That’s the mentality we need, from the first minute to the last. We have to believe that we can play a good game and, God willing, come away with the win.
“We need to have confidence in every game, regardless of our results or our opponents’ results. We have to believe we can win.
“That has to be our mentality. Believe until the end, no matter how difficult it is. We know our potential and our quality, and we can see what we’re doing in training. We know we need to improve, but we also have to recognise the progress we’re making.”
