Cheikhou Kouyate has claimed that Slaven Bilic ordered him to play at right back against his wishes during the 2016/17 campaign.

KUMB revealed yesterday how Kouyate was unsure where his immediate future lay, having experienced a disappointing season at West Ham - his third since moving from Anderlecht in 2014.And one of the reasons for the uncertainty was Bilic's decision to ask him to play at right back during an injury crisis at the start of last season - despite having previously told Kouyate that it was only a temporary arrangement, according to the Senegal international."I reminded him [Bilic] what he had told me, but he insisted that I stay at the position," Kouyate told Sen360FR. "My friend Aliou Ciss? called me and said, 'Cheikhou, that's not you. You can play as central defender but not right back because there you are bored'."Indeed, he was right because I did not feel good in everything I did. It is true that I had fire [in my belly] and I took my responsibilities to tell the coach that I could no longer continue."My performance was catastrophic, all the TV pundits said so. I fully agree with that criticism. I was a spectator. I did not know when to cover or to attack."I also received a lot of positive messages from the fans and it was then that the coach brought me back to my original position. But frankly, he put me in a difficult situation because there was enormous pressure."