Summer recruit Maximilian Kilman is itching to get his first taste of competitive action adorned in the West Ham United Claret and Blue, with the Hammers’ Premier League kick-off almost upon us.
Julen Lopetegui’s charges are set to welcome last season’s high-flyers Aston Villa to London Stadium on Saturday for what promises to be an enthralling battle, with each side vying for a fast start to the new campaign.
The third of eight new arrivals in east London so far, defender Kilman is now well-acquainted with the Club and his teammates having enjoyed a busy pre-season schedule in Austria, the USA and closer to home since putting pen to paper in early July.
With all that hard work being focused towards this weekend’s all-important Villa clash, and after getting a flavour of the home experience during the Betway Cup triumph over RC Celta de Vigo last time out, he can’t wait to meet the rest of the West Ham family on matchday.
“I can’t wait to get out and play,” the 27-year-old said. “Last week, at home to Celta Vigo, being at the stadium and feeling a bit of the atmosphere was good, but I think it’s really going to sink in that I’m a West Ham player against Aston Villa.
“I’ve been at the Club for over a month now, so I’m very excited to get going in the Premier League, and especially at home. It’s going to be a full stadium and a great atmosphere, and hopefully we can come away with the right result.
“We know that every team in the Premier League has top players and there are no easy games, and Villa are no different. They had a successful season last year, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, and I’m sure they’ll want to keep progressing, but we’ll be ready.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge that’s put in front of us, and I think we’re all just raring to get out there and get to work.”
Kilman swapped Wolverhampton Wanderers for London to play under Julen Lopetegui for the second time in his career in the ongoing transfer window, having featured 24 times under the Spaniard during his time in charge at Molineux.
Under his tutelage once again, together with the calibre of fellow recent signings such as Germany international Niclas Füllkrug and Argentinian World Cup winner Guido Rodríguez, Kilman is confident of delivering success to the supporters in 2024/25.
He added: “I know the Head Coach and his approach to the game from the season we spent together at Wolves. He has really high standards, and he wants every player to reach the top of their game.
“He has got it in him to push the team, and that’s what we’re looking for here at West Ham. We are looking to start the season really strongly and push on as much as we can.
“It’s a very exciting time to be a West Ham player. We have signed some top-quality players, and now we have a big squad with lots of competition for places. Hopefully that will help increase everyone’s performance levels.
“We have a lot of ambition, and the expectations are rightly high. We have all the foundations to push on as much as we can, and the aim is to finish as high up in the table as possible.”
