Dinos Mavropanos is happy to have the opportunity to meet West Ham United’s US-based supporters during the Hammers’ Sunshine State Tour of Florida.
The Greece defender and his teammates are spending a fortnight in America’s southeasternmost state, training and competing in the Stateside Cup in Jacksonville and Tampa.
The Irons are hosting open training sessions and fan parties in both cities, with the first taking place in Jacksonville on Friday evening ahead of Saturday’s Stateside Cup tie with Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers at EverBank Stadium.
While preparation work is the priority, Mavropanos and his fellow Hammers are relishing the chance to greet Claret and Blue Army members who have descended on Florida from all over North America and beyond.
“We get to see to see some new places and also meet fans who obviously we cannot meet during the season in the UK,” said the No15, when asked what he likes best about visiting the US for pre-season. “We know that here in the US is the highest number of West Ham supporters anywhere around the world except England, so I think it is really nice to come here and meet them in person and share time with them.
“It's really good to be part of this concept and try to see something different and be in a stadium of one of teams in the NFL, so it's, it's really nice to experience these kinds of things.
“I've been in America before, but I was never here in Florida, in Tampa or in Jacksonville, so I'm really happy to be here and have an opportunity to see some new areas and there are many things to do and explore!”
Unfortunately for Mavropanos, there has been precious little time to explore or do anything other than train, rest, recover and refuel for double training sessions at the start and end of each hot and humid day.
“Obviously it's different, the temperature here and the weather in comparison with England, but of course after a couple of days, you just try to forget about it,” he explained. “Look, we're training and we try to adapt for that because, at the end of the day, we just have to work hard and get ready for the season, so it’s one thing that we are not really complaining about.
“For example, during the training session we stopped many times to drink water because obviously with this weather it is getting a bit more difficult and we get dehydrated quicker. Water is one of the things we try to get a little bit of wet in our face and there are many things the staff tried to give us to feel better in these conditions.
“I’ve played and trained in that kind of temperature and during the game you stop every 22 minutes for the water so I think this is what happened in our last game as well, so I guess that's one of the things we’ll do here.”
The 26-year-old says that hard work in testing conditions is vital, though, not only to build fitness but also to implement Head Coach Julen Lopetegui’s style.
“We've been here a few days and until now, we’ve used most of our time in the training ground and tried to work hard,” he confirmed. I don’t know our plan for the next days but our main target is to work hard and get ready for the new season.
“We have all worked really hard during our preseason back at our training ground, in Austia a couple of weeks ago and now in Tampa as well. We try to adjust to the new philosophy of our manager and, as I said, we work really hard and try to be ready right on time for the season.
“Obviously, the game style is different, so we have to adapt as quick as possible to the new game style of our manager and there are many things that he wants to bring into this team and here try to adjust as quick as possible.”
The 26-year-old says that hard work in testing conditions is vital, though, not only to build fitness but also to implement Head Coach Julen Lopetegui’s style.
“We've been here a few days and until now, we’ve used most of our time in the training ground and tried to work hard,” he confirmed. I don’t know our plan for the next days but our main target is to work hard and get ready for the new season.
“We have all worked really hard during our preseason back at our training ground, in Austia a couple of weeks ago and now in Tampa as well. We try to adjust to the new philosophy of our manager and, as I said, we work really hard and try to be ready right on time for the season.
“Obviously, the game style is different, so we have to adapt as quick as possible to the new game style of our manager and there are many things that he wants to bring into this team and here try to adjust as quick as possible.”
Mavropanos is also adjusting to working with new teammates in Maximilian Kilman, Luis Guilherme and Wes Foderingham, and he is helping them settle into what is a close and welcoming squad.
“They’ve been very good,” he observed. “I think we are helping a lot everyone to get into the new environment. We are really happy to have everyone here and until now it's been a very good time.”
Mavrorapanos, Kilman, Guilherme and Foderingham will likely all have opportunities to play when West Ham take on Wolves in Jacksonville on Saturday evening at 7pm EDT (12midnight BST).
That match, as well as the meeting with Crystal Palace in Tampa on Saturday 3 August, will be available to watch worldwide on West Ham TV via whufc.com and our official mobile app – with passes available for both matches now!
Alternatively, if you are in the United States, come along and watch West Ham live and in-person! Tickets for both games are on sale now HERE.
