Toumani Diagouraga said the negotiations over his new Brentford contract were concluded very quickly and he was delighted to sign on.
The midfield player signed a new deal yesterday, keeping him at Griffin Park until the summer of 2017, a two-year extension to his current contract that was due to expire at the end of the season.
The 27-year-old completed a permanent move to Griffin Park in the summer of 2010 after a successful loan spell.
He has established himself in the centre of Brentford’s Sky Bet Championship midfield over the past month, starting the last six games in a row, his longest run of starting appearances for more than two years.
Toumani, speaking to Bees Player after signing the deal, said: “I am delighted.
“I am happy to still be at the Club and commit myself until 2017.
“They came to me last week.
“It didn’t take long to negotiate.
“I like the Club and want to stay here so we made it happen quickly.”
Toumani’s six starts in a row came after starting only five league games in the previous 13 months.
He had a loan spell at League Two Portsmouth last season and said his new deal was a reward for working hard.
“A new contract felt a long way away a couple of months ago,” Toumani admitted.
“But it just shows that in football anything is possible if you keep going.
“I think I am playing OK but I need to keep going and keep playing well until 2017.
“I have to work hard in training and make sure I don’t let my standard drop, that is what I am trying to do.”
Toumani was part of a Brentford team that won five Championship games in a row, equalling a second-tier record.
“I am finding the Championship OK,” he said.
“I think we have a good team and we are playing football that suits the whole team.
“That is why we are doing well.
“We are playing better teams but we are better too.
“We have a good understanding in the team, it makes everyone shine.”
Toumani has been part of a central midfield three with Jonathan Douglas and Jon Toral in those matches and said they all had freedom to play but with an eye on the back door.
“Dougie and I have played together quite a few times down the years,” said Toumani.
“We have a good understanding and the freedom to go out and play.
“That is what we are doing.
“We both know that one of us will go and one will stay, we just have to make sure we don’t leave the midfield empty.”
Brentford’s five match winning run came to an end with defeat way to Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
They had the better of things but fell behind and then conceded a second goal just after half time.
A Douglas goal in the second half could not be doubled and The Bees were beaten.
Toumani said Brentford played well in defeat and now had to pick themselves up and go again.
They now face Blackburn Rovers at Griffin Park on Saturday.
“I think we played OK, we had a lot more chances than they did but on the day it wasn’t meant to be,” said Toumani.
“We will dust ourselves off and go again.
“When you play well and are on top it is good to score the first goal.
“Even when we got back to 2-1 we had chances to get a draw and win the game.
“We are still fifth in the league and doing well.
“We will get prepared for Saturday and go again.”
Toumani’s new contract may mean he extends his Brentford stay past seven years.
The Bees were a mid-table League One side when he arrived and he said the Club was progressing quickly.
He said he wanted to be part of it and the sky was the limit.
“I have to keep going and try to play well,” said Toumani.
“I want to make sure the team get as many points as possible.
“I don’t think there is a limit to what this team can achieve.
“This is a club going forward.
“When I came here Brentford were in League One and doing OK, I didn't expect this.
“I am enjoying being at the Club, this will take me to seven years and hopefully there will be more after that.”
A full video interview with Toumani Diagouraga is available here for Bees Player subscribers.