Head Coach Julen Lopetegui is hoping to bounce back from a tough period away from the pitch by helping his West Ham United side sign off for Christmas with three points at home to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
In the wake of a difficult couple of weeks within the Hammers’ ranks, with forward Michail Antonio being involved in a serious car accident before young Academy of Football goalkeeper Oscar Fairs tragically passed away, Lopetegui spent part of this week back in his native Spain following the death of his father, José.
Having now returned to the English capital, the Irons boss is focusing his attention on backing up encouraging results in their last two outings, which yielded a 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers and a 1-1 draw away at high-flying AFC Bournemouth.
With no home win over Brighton since April 2012, and only one anywhere in 14 meetings since the Seagulls’ promotion to the Premier League in 2017, the statistics stand against West Ham, but Lopetegui is confident his troops can buck the recent trend.
Brighton have impressed for large parts of 2024/25 under the top-flight’s youngest ever manager, 31-year-old Fabian Hürzeler, and have trumped the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur this term, but they travel to London Stadium winless in four.
While the Sussex-based outfit - who currently sit ninth in the table - will be desperate to get their European bid back on track, West Ham will be full of belief that they can close the six-point gap between them and the top six with another positive result on home soil.
Ahead of kick-off, Lopetegui sat down with the gathered press and paid tribute to his father, while also discussing the challenges posed by Brighton, his opposite number and the total commitment of West Ham’s charges.
He also reserved mentions for Lucas Paquetá, Antonio and skipper Jarrod Bowen, who is set to make the 300th league appearance of his career on Saturday, a day after his 28th birthday.
A difficult period away from the pitch
It has been a hard week for our family, but my Dad has had a very good life and we are very proud of him. When I talk about my father, I do it with a smile on my face, because he has had a good life with lots of stories, and he has been a big character.
I have lost my Dad, but I think we have also lost a very big person. He has been a very good character, and we are all very proud of him.
Now, we have to change our focus because I am back, but at least I can stay close to my family. We have to think about tomorrow’s match, and the next match, because life continues.
Hard work continues behind the scenes
It has been a bit of a different week, but I believe a lot in my staff. They are always ready to manage this kind of situation, and the players have shown great commitment, too. They have all worked really hard, to get ready for the challenge tomorrow. We know it’s going to be tough, against a very good team.
Another tough top-flight test
Brighton are a very good team, with very good players, a good coach and good ideas. They have carried on with similar ideas over a number of years, despite the fact they have had a few different coaches.
So, we have to be ready tomorrow to have a good answer to the demands in the match. Every game in the Premier League is hard, and we don’t prepare for any to be tougher than others, and in the same way we see each fixture as an opportunity.
I’m always looking to overcome an opponent, and in this case we know they are a very good opponent. But, we have to put the focus on ourselves, and be ready to play a good match tomorrow.
They have a good record [at London Stadium], but I don’t believe a lot in the statistics. Each match is different, and tomorrow is another opportunity and another challenge. We have to think about tomorrow, rather than looking back at the past.
Facing an impressive coach in the opposition dugout
I think he [Fabian Hürzeler] is doing very well. Despite his age, he’s showing that he’s ready for the high demands that there are in the Premier League.
Sometimes the most important thing isn’t someone’s age, which is the same for the players. I think he’s a good coach now, and he’s going to have a great future for sure.
Paquetá’s eye-catching Bournemouth display
Lucas hadn’t started the last two games [before Bournemouth], but he showed he was ready. There is always a big focus on the starting XI in games, but today in football, the players on the bench are of the same importance, or sometimes even more. Substitutes can change a match, so they are key.
Lucas worked really hard after those two games, and he’s always ready to help us. All of the players have to show and feel that they can be important to the team, whether they are in the starting XI or on the bench.
I try to be honest with my players, and I am their coach, rather than their friend. I have a very respectful relationship with my players - a very honest relationship. I am happy with their behaviour and commitment above all, and we have created a strong group, which is the first step to being a good team and getting better in the weeks ahead.
Bowen firing on eve of milestone appearance
Despite still being a young player, Jarrod has achieved a lot in his career. He’s always ready - he’s a good player, and a very hard worker.
Maybe that is why he is a good player - he is a humble player, and he always gives his all. That is the first step towards having good performances, and a good career.
Paying a visit to West Ham’s No9
We visited him [Michail Antonio], and we enjoyed two hours with him. He’s recovering step-by-step, and he still has his humour.
Hopefully, he’s going to continue to get better and better, with less pain, but he has to be patient. The most important thing is that he recovers as a person, and after that I am sure he will recover as a player, too.
