In an interview two years ago, I asked Asmir Begovic to build his fantasy goalkeeper. He chose the mentality of Gianluigi Buffon, the approach of Kasper Schmeichel, the distribution of Ederson, the communication of Manuel Neuer and the presence of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
But who selected the then Bournemouth goalkeeper, now at Queen's Park Rangers and with a brilliant career at Chelsea, among others, for the most fundamental task of all: actually stopping shots?
It was Alphonse Areola, who was loaned to Fulham by Paris Saint-Germain at the time. "It will be interesting to see where the future takes him," Begovic said.
Well, the future took Areola through London to West Ham United and as I pass on Begovic's identical goalkeeper - with his assigned shot-stopping feature - he understandably looks shell-shocked. After all, it is a compliment.
"Really? In the world? I mean, it's the first time I've heard it!" says Areola. "I'm glad to hear it and thank you for that."
There is a pause and a smile before Areola adds with a laugh: "Mmm, I think I showed in a few games that he wasn't lying! It's all about the daily work: if you're not fit, if you're not ready in your head, if you're not ready to move your feet, then you can't really stop the balls. It's about the work you do every day."
Areola has undoubtedly worked hard to become West Ham's No.1, although he rejects that title as he often shares duties with Lukasz Fabianski when David Moyes rotates his goalkeepers. Moyes is not the only manager to do this, as Arsenal - hosts West Ham on Thursday evening - flirted with the idea before opting for David Raya over Aaron Ramsdale.
"The two seasons before that I was the European goalkeeper and he [Fabianski] was the Premier League goalkeeper. That's how it was," Areola explains. "Just before the first match [of the season] the gaffer decided to play me, but obviously we have to compete and do our best. If one day I'm not in shape, Lukasz is honestly there to push me."
The story continues
A wrist injury recently ruled Areola out and handed Fabianski his chance, but the France international has bounced back and kept a clean sheet in the impressive win over Manchester United. He is expected to keep his place as West Ham prepare to face Arsenal in the Premier League.
"We're used to it because we've been doing it all our lives; share only one goal," he says. "We are professionals, we have our experiences with the clubs we have played at, the titles we have won, but we put that aside. The most important thing is the team. It's not like tennis when you're alone on the court. In football, results depend on everyone in the team."
The mention of tennis is partly because we are at the Excel Center in London, where Areola is visiting his friend and compatriot Gael Monfils, who is taking part in the 'Ultimate Tennis Showdown' tournament. The pair have a knock-up with Monfils eventually unleashing some powerful serves. "I would rather see a punishment," says Areola, who has had lessons, wryly.
Talking to the 30-year-old, it's interesting to hear him speak not only about the importance of the 'team', but also about winning trophies. Certainly, lifting the Europa Conference League - beating Fiorentina in June - means a lot to him and it is a change in mentality that he has helped bring about at West Ham, even if there was the recent disappointment of their crushing defeat in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup against Liverpool. .
Areola played in the 5-1 defeat, although Moyes was criticized by frustrated West Ham fans for fielding a weakened team in what was certainly a real opportunity to move one step closer to winning another trophy. He will defend United's victory, which lifts West Ham to sixth place - and therefore another Europa League place - before the Christmas games, justifying his changes.
"I had won trophies before, but I missed a European trophy. I didn't have that," Areola explains. "When I signed here, the first thing I heard from the club, from the board, was: 'we want to be a team that is competitive in Europe'. As soon as they told me that, I said, 'I'm in. I'm drawing'. That's why I'm here."
Areola was also aware that West Ham had not won a trophy for 43 years, since the FA Cup in 1980.
"It meant a lot to the club. I knew it," he says. "When you're in the locker room, you know. When you sign for a club you also have to be aware of the history of the club, of the big players, and when you are part of that you just want to put the club on the highest stage. I think we do.
"It was unbelievable. Before the final, before the semi-final, before the quarter-finals, all the fans I met on the street said: 'we are behind you, we know you can do it'. And we did it for them.
"When you're a competitor, you just want to win titles. I have been very lucky because in my career I have won many titles and trophies. Every time you play you just have to give everything to achieve that feeling, to celebrate with your team, with your fans, with everyone at the club. You just want to push every day."
Areola has indeed won many titles: three French leagues and two French cups with PSG, the Spanish league on loan to Real Madrid and the World Cup with France in 2018. It is a legendary career.
"If you are a competitor, yes," he says. "You just want to win and win and win. Every time you go on the field, you want that. A European trophy was missing for me, but if I can get another trophy by the end of this season I will be more than happy. Every match is an opportunity for us. Once you taste it, you just want more."
Areola has in fact been involved in two World Cup finals after being left on the bench in 2018 and also when France lost to Argentina last year. "I started watching football with the France 98 team: Zidane, Barthez, Thierry Henry, everyone. From there I started," says Areola.
"That French national team shirt was my first shirt and twenty years later I am here, on the same podium. I haven't played [in the final] but it's about the team, the collective, the spirit and I'm part of that World Cup victory. I'm just so proud of it. I was talking to my goalkeeper coach when I was 12 years old, he was on the national team, and I almost cried. It was quite emotional to think that I started watching them hold that trophy aloft and I did the same.
'West has given me stability'
It was also important for Areola to find a home, which he has at West Ham. Despite his pedigree, and partly because it is a goalkeeper's role, there have been loan spells at Lens, Bastia, Villarreal, Real Madrid and Fulham before another loan at West Ham in 2021 led to an agreement on a five-year contract with the option for another twelve months.
It meant the world to Areola, who wants to settle down with his wife Marrion, especially after the couple have moved nine times since they got together 12 years ago.
"West Ham has given me that stability," says Areola. "I had been looking for that for so long, especially with the girls, my [three] daughters. We really wanted to settle somewhere, so when West Ham and London came it was like 'perfect place, perfect team, let's go'. I was 100 percent in favor of it. They also gave me confidence by wanting to sign me on a long-term contract."
