Julen Lopetegui aiming to bring 'good news' to West Ham fans after difficult start | OneFootball

Hammers kick off Premier League weekend against Chelsea on Saturday

Julen Lopetegui wants to repay West Ham fans' faith by bringing "good news" to the London Stadium following a poor start to the Premier League season.

August's 2-0 victory at Crystal Palace has brought their only league win whilst a stoppage-time goal from Danny Ings was required to stave off defeat at Fulham on Saturday.

"My message to the fans is first that we are grateful because they always support us," said Lopetegui. "We feel that.

"We want to give them good news, good matches. This is our aim. We have to work hard to be able to compete and to win these kinds of matches."

Despite overseeing West Ham's most successful era in decades, supporters had largely lost patience with the football being played by Moyes' team by the end of his four-and-a-half-year reign.

The team finished sixth in 2021/22 - their highest league placing in 23 years - and followed it up with a seventh-place finish the following year, whilst victory in the Conference League final last May ended the club's 43-year wait for a major trophy.

Yet fans wanted change and the appointment of Lopetegui was made with a view to bringing more expressive football to the London Stadium.

The head coach indicated supporters should not expect instant results.

"Always you can improve and develop your ideas," he said. "I'm very happy with the players' commitment, they are working hard every day. It's the first step we need in order to develop the rest.

"With this behaviour and commitment, I am sure that step by step we are going to improve and compete better.

"We're keeping the good things that the team has and trying to improve the other things.

"You have to look at the end of the season where you are. The Premier League is a very long, very hard season. Different kinds of matches. We have to be ready to be competitive all season.

"The results are about time, but also you need to win. When you win you believe more and get stronger and stronger."

The Hammers face Chelsea in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off looking to get off the mark in front of their own fans this season.

"Every match is difficult in the Premier League," said Lopetegui. "Every team is able to beat any opponent. It's one of the league's biggest strengths.

"That's why we put focus all on the next match. We've had tough matches but this is the past. It doesn't matter if we play at home or away, the important thing is that we compete and win."