What new Hammers head coach Julen Lopetegui was shouting on the touchline makes his first West Ham impressions crystal clear.
They say pre-season is just for fitness.
That nothing should or can be read into performances and results.
While that may be true for the most part, things are different for West Ham this pre-season.
The Hammers have a new head coach in Julen Lopetegui.
The Spaniard has made his fierce West Ham ambition clear since taking over from David Moyes.
Lopetegui joins the club under pressure to drastically change West Ham’s risk averse and slow style of play.
It has been clear during the first couple of weeks of pre-season that Lopetegui is not here to mess around.
New Hammers boss means business
A host of players including senior pros Aaron Cresswell and Danny Ings have already raved about life under Lopetegui. The pair have outlined how demanding the former Spain boss has been.
Lopetegui has also implemented a strict new West Ham rule aimed at fostering a better team spirit.
That was on full view when West Ham played Hungarian side Ferencvaros in a friendly over in Austria on Monday afternoon.
West Ham drew the game 2-2 in the last minute with goals from Danny Ings and Nayef Aguerd.
There were several noticeable differences in the setup and style Lopetegui wants to play.
Lopetegui wants to implement a high-pressing, high-intensity game for the most part.
Clearly putting a new style and philosophy in place is not going to happen overnight.
West Ham will be a work in progress now throughout pre-season.
But what Lopetegui was shouting on touchline makes his first West Ham impressions crystal clear.
Lopetegui makes first West Ham impressions crystal clear
The 57-year-old could be heard bellowing orders and instructions to the players throughout the game.
His main focus was on getting West Ham’s players to carry out his high-pressing, high intensity game plan.
Lopetegui voiced his frustration on several occasions, shouting ‘Come on’ and ‘Vamos’ to his players in a bid to get them pressing as he wants.
Then towards the end of the first half Lopetegui was exasperated at one particularly lacklustre phase of play as the opposition passed the ball out far too easily.
“Late, we are late, always late,” Lopetegui shouted angrily just before the half-time whistle blew.
In the second half Lopetegui was also heard encouraging the likes of Kurt Zouma, Aguerd and goalkeeper Wes Foderingham to play faster as West Ham trailed.
“Rapido, rapido, come on play quicker” Lopetegui bellowed at them. The former goalkeeper also voiced his frustrations at Foderingham being slow to start the play off from the back as he walked to collect a ball before taking a goal kick.
“Wes come on, play,” Lopetegui shouted as the ex Sheffield United ‘keeper got a wake-up call over the expectations compared to his time with the relegated Blades.
Lopetegui leaves no doubts over levels expected
If West Ham’s players were in any doubt about the standards expected, they won’t be now.
Lopetegui means business.
That much is clear from this first friendly alone.
It will be interesting to see what Lopetegui says about the game post match.
If he is being honest he will make it clear he wants more from the players when it comes to pressing and keeping up their intensity.
That should improve hand-in-hand with fitness levels.
West Ham are going to be getting a high energy team, pressing the life out of the opposition that’s more akin to Jurgen Klopp tactics than Moyes.
If these are the demands he is going to be putting on the Hammers then there could be very exciting times ahead indeed.
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