OPINION
West Ham United produced a disciplined performance to secure a goalless draw with Chelsea at the London Stadium on Sunday.
And they did so on the back of a dominant defensive display against one of the best teams in the Premier League. In particular, the centre back duo of Fabian Balbuena and Issa Diop were excellent.
Both men have taken a little bit of time to find their feet after moving to East London this summer, Balbuena for £6.5million and Diop for £22million, but they appear to be firmly bedded in now.
Paraguay international Balbuena was the more unheralded of the duo after joining from Corinthians, and that was reflected in the slow start he made to his Hammers career.
However, manager Manuel Pellegrini has kept faith in the centre back, starting him in all six of the team’s league games so far this term. That’s quite a compliment for the 27-year-old considering how poorly the side started the season.
It’s easy to forget when you look at Diop that the Frenchman is just 21 years of age. He was left on the bench for West Ham’s first two games, but came into the team against Arsenal and hasn’t left the line up since.
Both men were terrific up against the physically imposing Olivier Giroud on Sunday, nullifying the World Cup winner and ensuring that he couldn’t bring his team mates into play with any regularity.
Balbuena was the most composed man on the pitch despite the threat of Eden Hazard, Willian and Mateo Kovacic. He was also a constant source of support for Pablo Zabaleta, clearing up any messes that the Argentine missed on the right hand side.
It’s such a bonus for Pellegrini to have found some solidity and consistency in his team. Balbuena and Diop set the tone at the back, while the midfield trio of Mark Noble, Declan Rice and Pedro Obiang have made such a difference to the team.
The Hammers midfield obviously helps the defence, as well. The Balbuena and Diop tandem are finally afforded some protection in front of them, which had been sorely missing through the team’s first four games of the season.
To have found a dominant defensive partnership for a combined £28.5million in this day and age is no mean feat, and Pellegrini deserves credit for their signings.
West Ham can now move forward knowing that they have a solid spine to their team who will produce consistently good football on a week-to-week basis, and Balbuena and Diop are key to that.