If there were any concerns about whether a switch in West Ham United’s system would be a problem for El Hadji Malick Diouf, he dispelled those with ease on Nuno Espirito Santo’s first game in charge at Everton.
The £19 million signing from Slavia Prague began life at the Hammers as a rampaging left-wing back.
But when Graham Potter traded in his disastrous 3-4-2-1 system for a more traditional back-four shortly before getting the sack, some may have expressed concerns over whether such an attack-minded player could adapt.
It’s fair to say El Hadji Malick Diouf has overcome those with considerable comfort.
While Diouf boasts the most assists of any full-back in Europe’s top five leagues, do not underestimate his defensive qualities.
The Senegal international had Bukayo Saka ‘in hell’ during that stunning 3-1 win over Thomas Tuchel’s England in June. Given that Diouf is likely to go head-to-head with Saka again in today’s trip to Arsenal, that bodes well indeed.
Speaking to The Athletic, Malick Diop, the co-founder of the Dakar-based Academie Mawade Wade, recalls the time the West Ham United sensation stepped in at centre-half back home.
While that is a position he is unlikely to occupy again – his crossing ability would be wasted in such a role – Diop’s reflections speak volumes aabout Diouf’s versatility and the broadness of his skillset.
West Ham United sensation Malick Diouf impressed at centre-back in Senegal
Diop, who also coached Diouf in the Senegal Under-17s side, cannot speak highly enough of what his former protege has gone on to achieve.
“I’ve known him for a long time,” Diop explains. “Where we’re from is a very tough area. So of course I’m proud of what Malick’s achieved.
“When he came to the national team, he was a left-back who was really fast and had great crossing ability. But we lacked cover at centre-back, and we moved him there.
“He was good [at centre-half], and it benefited his development knowing how to play in different positions.
“He joined our academy aged 17, and straight away, I knew I couldn’t make him stay for much longer. He had a higher ceiling.”
Diouf moved to Norway in 2023, joining Tromso. Many young African talents have made their name in Scandinavia in recent years, Mohammed Kudus being one, of course.
Diop admits that controlling his aggression on the pitch was an issue which dogged Diouf’s early years. But, thanks to some help from Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger, that is a problem he appears to have moved past now.
“Before I spoke to Malick, I made a highlight reel of Rudiger,” Diop recalls. “He plays very tough but is clever at not getting booked. I told Malick to watch the video and call me back after.
“He said, ‘Rudiger is more aggressive than me!’. So it was about teaching Malick to be clever with his aggression because it was still a key part of his game.”
Diouf is ‘really enjoying’ his time alongside Nuno Espirito Santo
Diouf, thanks in part to Diop’s advice, has picked up just ten yellow cards and a single red in his senior career so far. He averages a booking nearly every seven games. Impressive, certainly, for a man who doesn’t usually hold back in the challenge.
While Rudiger helped hone his defensive talents, Diouf has earned comparisons with Gareth Bale and David Beckham since joining West Ham in a £19 million deal from Slavia Prague in July.
With three assists in six Premier League matches – he could have had a fourth, if not for Michael Keane’s partial clearance moments before Jarrod Bowen rattled in an equaliser at Everton – it’s no surprise Arsenal are being warned about Diouf’s ‘incredible pace and top-class crossing ability’ as he prepares to renew acquaintances with Saka.
“It was a good point [at Everton], and it was not easy,” Diouf tells the official West Ham website. “The second half was good, and we showed a lot of character, which I think is really important.
“We are really enjoying working with the new head coach because he’s a good guy and already has the experience of the Premier League. He can help us and help me as a young player, and that’s what we need.
“I think we can learn also about him, and we are all happy to welcome him here. We started with a positive result, and we can have a good season with him.
“You can see from the whole team, there is a lot of new energy. We have something here, and we have a lot of good players. The quality is there, and everything can change. We just need time. We have to be calm and take our time.
“We must play as a team, defend together and attack together, and I think if we do that, we will finish high in the table.”
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
