Julen Lopetegui exclusive: West Ham United manager says making club 'competitive' is his 'main aim' this season

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Julen Lopetegui has experienced a difficult start to life as the new West Ham manager but he remains confident that he can turn things around at the club. The Hammers picked up a much-needed win over Ipswich before the international break and face a trip to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur as the Premier League returns on Saturday. Watch and live stream the derby on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Lopetegui takes the helm as West Ham boss

Video credit: SNTV

Julen Lopetegui has told TNT Sports that turning West Ham United into a "competitive" team is his "main aim" as The Hammers prepare to return to Premier League action.

The Spaniard enjoyed his first home victory in the league since joining the club in the summer before the international break, as West Ham cruised to an impressive 4-1 win over Ipswich.

West Ham will be looking to secure back-to-back victories in the league when they face a tough trip to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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The Hammers went unbeaten against Spurs in the league last season for the first time since the 2020/21 campaign, as they secured a 2-1 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, before picking up a 1-1 home draw.

Despite a tough start to life at the London Stadium - they have only two league wins to their name and have already been knocked out of the Carabao Cup - Lopetegui's side are unbeaten away from home in the league, and he believes that they are on the right track.

"It’s always important to win and pick up victories," he told TNT Sports in an exclusive interview. "In the same way, we demand that we are competitive and win matches and this is our main aim and that’s why we work every day.

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"We are in the process where we have to improve a lot of things, to win more points and consolidate different things. In the same way, we are working to be more competitive and to be able to win more matches."

Lopetegui joined West Ham on the back of a fine spell with Wolves following previous managerial roles with the Spanish national team, Real Madrid and Sevilla.

The 58-year-old was brought in to replace David Moyes, who received criticism from a section of the fanbase for his style of play at West Ham despite leading them to UEFA Conference League glory in 2023.

As Lopetegui gets his feet under the table at the club, he plans to be adaptable to the players at his disposal and find a style which better suits their qualities.

He explained: "You have your way of understanding football and you have to adapt too. Adapt ideas to the real situation of the players, so it's to balance all of these things and to be competitive - this is the main aim that we have, the main demand we have as a coaching team.

"I always try to do this. Each one of us has our own ideas, our way to play and understand the way we want to attack and defend, but in the same way we have to understand the kind of player we have to be able to balance all these things."

'Good example for the rest'

The victory over Ipswich was the perfect tonic for a number of West Ham players who had struggled to find form in the early part of the campaign.

Club captain Jarrod Bowen got on the scoresheet for the first time since August and Lopetegui is confident he can replicate last season's form where he scored 20 goals in all competitions.

"He’s a big player and now he’s our captain and for sure, he’s going to develop as a big character as the captain for West Ham," Lopetegui said.

"He’s an international player and he’s a good example for the rest because he’s a hard-working player and he’s always looking to improve. [He has] a big commitment so we are happy with him."

Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus celebrate in West Ham's win over Ipswich

Image credit: Getty Images

Mohammed Kudus got off the mark for the first time this term against Ipswich and the West Ham boss stressed that he is encouraged by the winger's displays so far.

"Mo is working very well too, he’s trying to improve and he’s a different player to Jarrod," he said. "They are not similar players but each one with his own qualities and strengths and both have to improve.

"The most important thing that we have is their commitment to work hard and improve in every training session."

It is the first time since the 2020/21 campaign that West Ham will not be participating in European football, but Lopetegui is not looking too far forward before the London derby on Saturday.

West Ham lie in 12th place in the table after seven matches played, but their manager prefers to focus his and the squad's energy on the next game rather than attempt to set a target of finishing in the European places.

"I think we have to think game by game and the next step is Tottenham," he stressed. "We have to put our focus in the short-term and when you ask me in May, I can answer about our real aim this year.

"We are going to try our best but the most important thing is to do the next step and that is Tottenham. It’s going to be highly demanding against one of the best teams in the Premier League in my opinion. We have to be ready."

Lopetegui was also full of praise for Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou for the way he has developed his philosophy at the club.

"He’s done fantastic work," Lopetegui said. "He’s developed a kind of personality into his team which is very clear. You can see that when you analyse this team. It’s the work from the coach and the quality of the players [at his disposal] and the intensity that they have. But the most important thing is our answer [to them], we have to be strong in our answer and put the focus in the thing that we have to do."

How to watch Tottenham v West Ham

TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), and up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.

Tottenham Hotspur host West Ham United at the London Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday, October 19.

Kick-off is at 12.30 UK time, with live coverage on TNT Sports 1 commencing at 11:00.

You can subscribe to TNT Sports through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

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