Jean-Clair Todibo could have an important role to play in West Ham’s seven remaining Premier League games.
Todibo’s improved form was a key reason behind the Hammers’ unexpected victories over Tottenham and Sunderland in January.
However, the Frenchman has since missed five games for several reasons: a two-game suspension, a calf injury, and team selection.
Having fallen behind Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi in the pecking order, Todibo has now opened up on his relationship with him.
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Axel Disasi at the end of the match during the Premier League match between Fulham and West Ham United
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Jean-Clair Todibo opens up after Axel Disasi replaced him in West Ham side
Todibo could not be blamed for feeling frustrated about being dropped from Nuno Espirito Santo’s starting XI.
The 26-year-old had been in fine form until a moment of madness against Chelsea, grabbing Joao Pedro by the throat.
He has played twice since his suspension, but it appears that Nuno prefers Disasi and Dinos Mavropanos.
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But Todibo has reacted well to the competition and maintains an excellent relationship with his fellow Frenchman, Disasi.
“It’s easy for us to live together!” he said to Premier League Productions, via whufc.com. “Axel is French, so obviously for me it’s very easy. We speak the same language.
“He’s just one year older than me, so the connection is already there.
“We’ve been rivals when he was in Monaco, and I was in Nice, and we played together in the French national team, so we knew each other, so for us it was very easy.
“Axel is a very simple person, so it’s easy to put him in a group and be there as someone important, and he’s also a very great player, so I think for him it was easy.”
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The camaraderie within the group could be the difference between survival and relegation this season.
Especially in the backline, every player must prioritise the collective over their individual goals.
This has already happened at West Ham, as Todibo admits he has become closer to Mavropanos and Max Kilman lately.
“With Dinos and Max, the relationship has been very good for a long time,” Todibo added. “Now, I think the dynamic of the group changed.
“We start to know each other more, so I think now, even in the group, we just feel better with each other.”
The next test for West Ham’s central defenders will be to keep a vital clean sheet against Wolves on Friday.
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