West Ham and Lopetegui Set for New Premier League Start

It is a wonderful time to be preparing for the start of the new Premier League campaign, as West Ham United get set to embark on their debut season with Julen Lopetegui at the helm. Real Madrid, Spain: Angel Martinez/Getty ImagesMoyes has left after leading West Ham to safety; he will be replaced by former Real Madrid and Spain coach Pellegrini in the dugout as they look toward an era of attacking possession based football at London Stadium. Julen Lopetegui and new Wolves £40 million defender Max Kilman provide their thoughts to Sky Sports ahead of Saturday's season-opener against Aston Villa live on Night Football.

With Julen Lopetegui – a man with an awareness for tactics drilled into him who described his vision of side that was well rounded in both offensive and defensive phases. "Because we are going to try and become a strong team you have use all the quality strengths in service of the team always," stressed Lopetegui, focusing on daily improvement well as collective ambition.

Lopetegui is upbeat, despite the pre-season having not provided much material upon which to build. Reintegration of new sings and adaption to his strategies are considered a continued work in progress. "Trying to put all of them together in the best way and step by step, we are going to get this balance," he said.

The club's activity in the transfer market highlights management faith with Lopetegui whilst numerous established figures like Angelo Ogbonna, Thilo Kehr and Said Benrahma have been shown the door. Lopetegui pointed to much more fundamental trait which can be forgotten about in the Alejandro fantasy - 'Domenech is hit by high ball and Zanetti goal-boy-power', but not during games, which Lopetoejeu points out: "It matters if you have a good mentality". Personality is probably the key thing — how ambitious is he? He said: "We have to be in the dressing room players with ambition and people who want to push themselves through those difficult moments.

The transition has also changed a little with Kilman being allowed to move further up the field, reuniting him with his old Wolves coach Lopetegui and expecting him in charge of this ball progression. Having played every minute of the previous Premier League season, Kilman is keen to develop under Lopetegui. "He's definitely one that can kick me on with all the players to get us up there as high as possible," Kilman said.

West Ham preparing for Aston Villa visit like fans to herald start of Lopetegui era Beyond being the start of a new era for both clubs, it's also a tactical battle between Lopetegui --- from Gipuzkoa in Basque Country -- and Villa boss Unai Emery San Sebastian-born coach.

It is a symbolic fixture for more than merely sports-centred reasons, but rather it represents West Ham's ambition and a taste of what could well prove to be season-defining under Julen Lopetegui. Their new coach may well have a voice fit for opera but it will take far more than that to impress fans and pundits alike who from here on in will scrutinising the players' every move, as they go about translating David Moyes words into runs hits (and catches)