‘Better than Virgil Van Dijk’ – West Ham fans praise Issa Diop on his return to the team

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Issa Diop won man of the match from Sky Sports News and West Ham’s official Twitter account after a stunning defensive performance.

The West Ham defender was a rock at the back after replacing Angelo Ogbonna in the line-up. Alongside Fabian Balbuena, he ensured that Tottenham Hotspur did not pass.

And the Hammers became the first team to win at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after keeping a clean sheet. Michail Antonio’s goal was the difference.

Issa Diop: performance in numbers

Diop produced a masterclass in defending. The 22-year-old centre-back played with maturity beyond his years and showed just how exciting a talent he can be.

With staggering tallies of two tackles, three blocks, six interceptions and eight clearances (via Who Scored), Diop made West Ham’s defence impenetrable.

The Frenchman has had a successful debut campaign in England but was dropped recently after a slight blip in his form.

But he came roaring back with a performance to highlight just how important he can be next season. Diop is thriving in the present and will only get better. Here are some tweets from fans about the France under-21 man.