Quietly spoken Maximilian Kilman is doing his talking on the pitch for West Ham United.
The centre-back has been in impressive form in recent weeks, capped by outstanding performances in the back-to-back Premier League victories at Arsenal and home to Leicester City.
Playing at the centre of Head Coach Graham Potter’s favoured back three, Kilman has showcased his range of defensive talents, helping the Hammers to record consecutive top-flight wins for the first time this season, and consecutive clean sheets for the first time since November.
The 27-year-old is far too modest to promote his own performances, instead focusing on his enjoyment at playing in a team which is growing in confidence and stature under Potter’s calm leadership.
“It’s been a very good week, with our first back-to-back wins of the season and obviously back-to-back clean sheets, so we're all delighted and I think we deserved it,” he told West Ham TV.
“It was a completely different game to Saturday, but most importantly we had to stay focused. Of course, Leicester still had quality if we'd let them counter-attack, but we didn't. We nullified them really well and we took our chances and defended well at the right time.”
Kilman has faced Leicester’s talismanic striker Jamie Vardy plenty of times down the seasons and, even at 38 years old, the England international has the pace and sharpness to trouble any Premier League defence – but the West Ham back three kept him largely quiet.
“He's so experienced and he's done so well in the Premier League, but of course, they've got top players and obviously Vardy's one of them, so we had to make sure we were 100% on it,” Kilman continued, explaining how much he is enjoying being the centrepiece in Potter’s back line, and how playing with three centre-backs gives the team a solid platform from which to attack themselves.
“I'm enjoying it,” he confirmed. “Of course, whatever formation the manager wants to play, I'm delighted to be a part of it and obviously give my best. I've got great players around me to make it much easier for me.
“The structure gives you that base. Obviously, you've got the wing-backs that come on forward and sometimes you're left as a free, so there's different challenges. Of course, as a footballer, you want to play, you want to do whatever the manager says.
“You want to learn and improve as a player. Thursday was another day where we can improve and keep getting better.”
Kilman also had words of praise for teammate Tomáš Souček, who marked his 30th birthday by scoring the decisive opening goal against Leicester – his sixth strike of the season and 38th since joining the Hammers five years ago.
“Tom works so hard and he deserves all the credit he gets because he's been top,” the defender enthused. “He's such a good professional. You can see he worked his socks off and, fortunately, he got a goal as well, so I’m pleased for him.
“He's such an all-round player. He offers so much on the ball, off the ball. He works his socks off. I think he runs the most per game of any player and, of course, he's a brilliant lad as well. So, I'm pleased for him and he deserves all the credit he gets.”
