And midfielder talks us through his Old Trafford wonder goal ahead of Gunners clash
HERE at wba.co.uk we have caught up with Morgan Amalfitano to discuss that goal and his glorious start to life with the Baggies. And to help us break down the language barrier none other than fellow Old Trafford hero Saido Berahino kindly translated for us...
MORGAN Amalfitano has praised his team-mates for making his transition to English football so smooth after hitting the headlines at Old Trafford last Saturday.
And the on-loan Marseille midfielder has described what he was feeling inside at the moment he cheekily dinked the ball over Manchester United No.1 David De Gea to score an early goal of the season contender.
Amalfitano remains unbeaten in his first three Barclays Premier League appearances – but he is taking nothing for granted as the Baggies prepare to face table-topping Arsenal on Sunday (ko 4pm).
“Marseille are a big French club and play in the Champions League – and the most important thing when I came here was to make sure I wasn’t going to take a step backwards,” he said.
“It is a step forward because the Premier League is a big league and I feel this team is right for me.
“I made the choice to come here and I’m enjoying every minute of it.”
He added: “Saturday’s game ranks up there in the top games in my career.
“It was a great win for me, a great place to get the win - and I scored.
“We played well as a team, the football was fantastic and I’m enjoying it.
“But if we hadn’t shown the unity we did on Saturday we wouldn’t have played as well.
“During the action I was cool and relaxed but deep down inside there was a lot of adrenalin pumping through me when I got the goal.
“David De Gea is a great keeper but I just tried to stay calm and do what I needed to score.”
The France international is eager to continue his form in front of the home supporters he says have made him feel welcome, when he takes on the Gunners.
“It is never easy for me,” he said.
“There has been a lot of work going on behind closed doors.
“I had to adapt to coming to England.
“It’s different back in France but I have adapted well and everything is going well.
“I’m just concentrating on the team now.
“I enjoy playing at The Hawthorns.
“It’s a different atmosphere to back in Marseille because Marseille have a huge stadium.
“But the atmosphere here is great and I’m enjoying it.
“I just try to give 100 per cent every day.”