With the 4th round of Premier League matches approaching, West Ham United manager José Lopetegui gave a comprehensive update on his team in his pre-match conference. He began by focusing on the team's injury situation, particularly striker Phil Kruger's Achilles injury, stating that he will be closely monitoring his recovery and plans to make a final decision on whether or not to play him against Fulham on the eve of the game. Meanwhile, he also confirmed that goalkeeper Areola has recovered from his previous niggle, which is certainly good news for the team's defense.
Speaking about the team's preparation for the match, Lopetegui admitted that the team's pre-match preparation has not been easy due to the international match day. However, he emphasized that the team has made full use of the limited time for training and bonding, especially with the return of the last few players, the team is fully assembled and ready to meet the upcoming challenges. He revealed that the team will conduct a thorough assessment of each player's physical and mental state before the game to ensure that they are in top form to face Fulham.
Lopetegui expressed satisfaction with the transfer operations in the summer window. He believes that the team has managed to bring in several talented newcomers while maintaining the stability of the lineup, injecting new vitality into the team. He emphasized that the whole team is now fully focused on how to utilize this lineup to achieve better results in the new season.
Looking ahead to the match against Fulham, Lopetegui gave his opponents a very high rating. He believes that Fulham are a very balanced team with a clear style of play and great players. He specifically mentioned that Fulham did well against West Ham United last season, so this game will be a tough matchup. However, he also said that the team is well prepared and will go all out to win.
In addition, Lopetegui also mentioned the special atmosphere and historical significance of the London derby. He said that as a Premier League team in London, West Ham United can always feel the attention and expectation from fans and media. However, he emphasized that the team needs to focus on its own performance, without external interference, to meet each game in the best condition.
Finally, Lopetegui also made a special mention of the performance of new recruit Soler. He said that Soler is an excellent player and has already shown great ability and potential in training. He believes that Soler will make an important contribution to the team in the coming games and expects him to continue to play well.
