While West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui has had a stuttering start to his Hammers career, today’s match against Tottenham presents him with an immediate opportunity to endear himself to the Irons fanbase.
The Spaniard has faced a fair amount of criticism during his early days at West Ham, some of which may be warranted. There have been concerns that Lopetegui has yet to figure out his best team, and that his defensive tactics, in particular, have been exposed.
However, the Hammers’ last Premier League outing resulted in a 4-1 victory against Ipswich Town, and it’s worth noting that the former Real Madrid manager’s away record this season has been quietly impressive.
But there’s nothing quite like a London derby against Spurs to capture the imagination and firmly establish oneself in West Ham United folklore. This week, social media has been awash with clips of Ravel Morrison’s solo run, where he danced through half the Tottenham team to score his iconic goal.
It’s precisely this kind of moment that affords Lopetegui a chance to further endear himself to West Ham fans, and he’s surely been around the game long enough to understand its significance.
Much has been made about the pressure both managers are under for this game, and perhaps unfairly, Ange Postecoglou cannot afford the negative publicity that would follow a home loss to the Hammers. However, Spurs’ pressure creates an opportunity for West Ham, and if Lopetegui can somehow pull off a victory, the narrative surrounding the Spaniard would shift significantly.