Four weeks into his tenure as West Ham United’s Head Coach, there are clear signs that Julen Lopetegui is instilling a new approach to football.
That the approach is not yet yielding positive results or consistent performances should not surprise anyone, not only because we are only a month into the Spaniard’s reign, but also because key players have yet to set foot on the pitch in a game situation.
Meanwhile, Lopetegui’s way of playing the game was evident in Saturday’s 3-1 Stateside Cup defeat by Crystal Palace in Tampa, Florida, most notably in a first half that featured high pressing, marauding full-backs and a well-taken goal from Michail Antonio.
Unfortunately, conceding within 30 seconds, then twice more in the space of four second-half minutes, not only set the Hammers on course for defeat, but also reiterated to the Head Coach that there is still much work to be done between now and the Premier League opener at home to Aston Villa on 17 August.
Tonight was to show us that we have 15 days in front of us to keep on working very hard and to try to evolve the players we have as soon as possible, and the new players, too.
We have 15 days to keep working and keep going to put the team in the best way for the first step that is, of course, the first Premier League match against Aston Villa.
Of course, we have to improve on a lot of things and I think maybe more or less the same as the Wolves game, until 60 minutes we have been balanced in the match.
After, we have to analyse and ensure we are able to do better, to defend better and don’t concede easy goals. I think we have to change this.
We are working hard and we know that we have worked very, very hard, so it’s possible that the legs were a little bit tired, so I think we have two days until we go back to London, then we will start the new week with new energy knowing that we have one other friendly match in our stadium to be ready for the key date which is Aston Villa.
We have to progress and we need to progress for sure.
There are good things. For example, Michail stayed in the pitch for 60 minutes and it’s good for him, so we are increasing the minutes for certain players.
Of course, this is a good thing, but they arrived late, so we have to try to take advantage of these days to put all of them in the best way and to analyse how we are going to train the new players who are waiting for us in the next weeks.
I think Crysencio Summerville is a good signing and he is going to help us, for sure.
He is going to provide the competition that we need and we need to think that in the squad that they have to compete for all the positions, as this will increase our performances and our level, for sure.
For example, this morning we played a training match and Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paquetá played for 40 minutes and it’s a good thing for them two to be able, step by step, to arrive in the last week with all the squad ready.
Celta Vigo will be a good challenge in front of our fans.
Of course, that will be our last friendly test and then we will start the truth that is the Premier League and our unique aim is to be able to start in the best way.
