In-form defender reveals why he couldn't find his best form at West Ham

Former West Ham centre-back Thilo Kehrer has become one of the best defenders in the Ligue 1 this season. Playing for Monaco, Kehrer has made 26 appearances and has formed a reliable centre-back partnership with Mohammed Salisu, and recently gave a UEFA Championship League masterclass performance against Barcelona.

Meanwhile, West Ham have managed to keep only one clean-sheet in the Premier League, and it seems that the Hammers should have given Kehrer more playing time under Julen Lopetegui. West Ham signed Kehrer from Paris Saint-Germain two years ago, as they considered him to be their long-term central defender for the upcoming seasons.

However, the transfer move didn't work out as expected, and the 28-year-old made only 32 starts under former manager David Moyes in two seasons. Thus, the Germany international decided to join Monaco initially on a loan transfer in January, where he is thriving currently after joining them on a permanent basis in a £10 million move in July.

In-form defender reveals why he couldn't find his best form at West Ham

Now, Kehrer has opened up about his struggles at West Ham, saying,

"Being flexible is a strength. But for me it is very helpful to have a fixed position in the centre. That is when I am at my best.

A number of things come together. self-confidence, playing time, trust from the club, coach and teammates."

- Thilo Kehrer

While reflecting on his West Ham career, Kehrer revealed that Moyes and the other defenders didn't backed him much during important matches. This can be due to the fact that West Ham were inconsistent with their performances during the 2022/23 season, and thus, Moyes didn't prefer to give more playing time to young talents in the squad.

However, Kehrer managed to take some valuable Premier League experience during those two seasons and now, is continuing his upward trajectory in European football. Meanwhile, West Ham will want that new signings Jean-Clair Todibo and Max Kilman showcase their huge potential at the London Stadium, and become one of their star players in the Premier League.