The Julen Lopetegui era is officially underway at West Ham United.
In the Spaniard’s first match as their head coach, West Ham drew 2-2 against Hungarian champions Ferencvaros in Kitzbuhel, Austria. The Premier League side have been on a week-long training camp in the Alpine town, where Lopetegui is implementing his methods having taken over from David Moyes this summer.
New signings Maximilian Kilman, Luis Guilherme and Wes Foderingham all made their debuts during the friendly.
These were the main takeaways from West Ham’s performance.
How were the new signings?
Kilman, Guilherme and Foderingham all played for 45 minutes.
Kilman, who joined from fellow Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers for £40million ($51.9m), partnered Konstantinos Mavropanos in defence in the first half. Guilherme, the £25.5m arrival from Brazilian side Palmeiras, started on the left flank. Foderingham, a free-agent signing from Sheffield United following their relegation to the second-tier Championship, was introduced in goal for the second half.
It was a shaky first-half performance with West Ham conceding goals by Owusu Kwabena and Aleksandar Pesic, but Kilman showed he is capable of playing out from the back and his on-field relationship with Mavropanos, Nayef Aguerd and captain Kurt Zouma will grow stronger with more time together in training and further warm-up games before the new season starts at home against Aston Villa on Saturday, August 17.
“I’m strong, fast and composed on the ball, but I know I’ve got a lot to achieve and haven’t hit my peak yet,” said Kilman, 27. “So I’m just excited to keep on improving as a player and get to my highest potential.”
Focused for Ferencváros 👊 pic.twitter.com/axxjzKbuxz
— West Ham United (@WestHam) July 15, 2024
Guilherme’s speed was noticeable as he aimed to test Ferencvaros’ defence. The Brazilian was Lopetegui’s first summer signing and defender and Brazil-born Italy international Emerson Palmieri has been helping the 18-year-old settle. Guilherme, who idolises Argentina’s Copa America-winning captain Lionel Messi, started his career as a midfielder before moving to play as a forward.
“He’s very young and a good player,” said Lopetegui. “Of course, he has to make his adaptation in England, but normally the good players can adapt early. We have to help him do that as soon as possible. He’s a very interesting player for us.”
Foderingham produced a solid performance after replacing starter Lukasz Fabianski. He was initially signed to be the third-choice goalkeeper but will aim to provide competition to Fabianski and No 1 Alphonse Areola.
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Did anyone stand out?
Danny Ings is not known for his set-piece ability, but he scored with a free kick here.
Perfectly placed by Ings 🎯
— West Ham United (@WestHam) July 15, 2024
Ings is the only recognised striker in this training camp, with Michail Antonio yet to return having been part of Jamaica’s squad at the Copa America, and was one of the nine changes Lopetegui made at half-time.
Although West Ham are in the market for a striker, the 31-year-old former England international is aiming to impress Lopetegui, who tried to sign him from Aston Villa while manager of Wolves in the 2022-23 season, only for Ings to opt for West Ham.
“It’s been frustrating for me, but it has been frustrating for the fans as well, because I’ve not played much, and (have) not been able to score goals,” Ings told West Ham’s website earlier this week. “But I know I am still capable of that, so hopefully I will get more opportunities to try to showcase myself and show the fans I really do care, and really do want to be successful here.”
Andy Irving received little fanfare last summer when he joined from Austria Klagenfurt late in the window. The 24-year-old Scottish midfielder returned to the Austrian side immediately on a season-long loan so finally made his first outing for West Ham against Ferencvaros. He played 45 minutes and provided the assist for Aguerd’s equaliser.
“I believe that I can go to West Ham and show my quality,” Irving said in an interview with Scottish outlet Edinburgh Evening News earlier this year. “It’s a challenge I’m very excited for. I understand the level that I’m going to and it’s up to me to show that I can play at that level.”
Nayef’s last-minute equaliser in Austria ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/LjqudOH3jp
— West Ham United (@WestHam) July 15, 2024
Did any young players get a chance?
Academy prospects Freddie Potts, Lewis Orford, Gideon Kodua, George Earthy, Patrick Kelly, Kaelan Casey, Callum Marshall and Sean Moore all featured, with Mason Terry, Fin Herrick and Junior Robinson unused substitutes.
With Antonio, Lucas Paqueta and Areola set to return to training at a later date following national-team duty this summer, Lopetegui has involved most players from the under-21s in his early pre-season preparations. Potts, Orford and Kodua started this friendly, while the others were introduced in the second half.
Potts, son of club legend Steve Potts and younger brother of Luton Town defender Dan Potts, was voted 2023-24 player of the year by team-mates and fans alike at Wycombe Wanderers following an impressive season on loan to the League One club. Earthy won West Ham’s young player of the year award last season, made his first-team debut against Germany’s Freiburg in the Europa League in March and scored his first senior goal against Luton in the Premier League two months later. In June, West Ham rejected an approach from Villa to sign 18-year-old midfielder Orford, who is entering the final year of his contract.
Casey, 19, has attracted loan interest from clubs in League One and the Championship. The centre-back, who made his Premier League debut in that same late-season match against Luton, has been impressed with Lopetegui’s impact.
“I think the style he has brought is quite a good style for us and everyone in the team, so we are working hard every day to make sure it’s a successful one for everyone,” Casey said. “It’s quite a high press and you’ve got to be fit to play under him, but it’s been good.
“I think everyone is on a clean slate now, so it’s just about working hard and trying to impress the manager. It’s been good to have some of the under-21s out here as well. My ambitions personally are to be in and around the team and to get more appearances, but that is the aim for everyone.”
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(Top photo: Steven Paston/PA Images via Getty Images)
Roshane Thomas is a staff writer who covers West Ham United for The Athletic. Previously, he worked for the Sunday Times and talkSPORT. Follow Roshane on Twitter @RoshaneSport
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