Julen Lopetegui clearly means business at West Ham and every word of his first address to the players in training proves it.
There was no red carpet treatment when it became clear Julen Lopetegui was going to replace David Moyes at West Ham.
The media backlash about West Ham’s move to part ways with Moyes and appoint the Spaniard was relentless.
In fact the assessment in the wider football press was somewhat scathing.
So much so Hammers News compiled an article asking whether Lopetegui could find somebody to love at West Ham, listing a persistent stream of the negative verdicts on the appointment.
A large section of Hammers fans were also unconvinced by the ex Spain and Real Madrid boss.
Judgement seems to have been clouded by a very negative press since Lopetegui walked out on Wolverhampton Wanderers on the eve of last season.
New Hammers boss gets his point across on day one
Journalist Guillem Balague was often a lonely voice in trying to justify his compatriot’s credentials.
Balague became completely exasperated at some of the cynicism and criticism levelled at Lopetegui and West Ham over the appointment.
Lopetegui ‘won over’ David Sullivan when the pair met for his interview, as exclusively revealed to Hammers News by Graeme Bailey.
He is already doing the same with many sceptical supporters who have been impressed by what he has had to say in his first interview and, on Monday, his official unveiling.
Long-term Lopetegui must succeed where Moyes failed by combining style with substance at West Ham in order to be deemed a success.
Every word of Lopetegui’s first address to West Ham players
Lopetegui’s former players seem to speak well of him. Max Kilman wants to be reunited with his old boss at the London Stadium.
And word is striker Youssef En-Nesyri – who shone under the 57-year-old at Sevilla – does too.
A diluted Hammers squad returned for their first meeting with Lopetegui this week.
And here is every word of Lopetegui’s first address to West Ham players in training at Rush Green.
The ex Porto manager was not mincing his words either.
He made things perfectly clear to the gathered squad in the gym area of Rush Green.
You could hear a pin drop as Lopetegui delivered his first directives to the group.
The Hammers’ new head coach told his players they may be friends off the pitch. But on it he wants to see them push and compete with one another at high intensity.
‘No friends on the training pitch’
“Hard work every day,” Lopetegui told West Ham’s players in a behind-the-scenes video you can watch below.
“We are going to talk more deeply about football (in time).
“But for now only two things. The first is to put inside, out that we are mates and we are friends sometimes.
“But in the (training) pitch I would like to see a very high competition between you. It’s very important. It’s the only way to find (the level), take advantage and to be more competitive. That’s the first step.
“So I think that more or less you understand me… and after the internationals finish, we welcome (them back) then it’s time to work and then we are going to know better in the next days about a lot of things.
“Ok? Yes? Come on.”
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