Julen Lopetegui: Ask me in four months if West Ham have made progress

Julen Lopetegui says West Ham are not “putting limits on our dreams” this season.

The Spaniard’s first campaign as Hammers boss kicks off on Saturday with the visit of Aston Villa to the London Stadium.

New manager Lopetegui has been heavily backed in the transfer market, spending upwards of £120million on talent to rejuvenate an ageing squad.

The likes of Max Kilman , Crysencio Summerville, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Max Kilman have all been bought in on big money, while older striker Niclas Fullkrug will aim to improve a blunt forward line.

Lopetegui has also handed the captain’s armband to star man Jarrod Bowen in a summer of change at the club.

“Our target is: don’t put limits on our dreams,” Lopetegui said. “Let’s see what is going to happen. Maybe you can ask me in three or four months and we are going to be clearer where we are.

“The most important thing: arriving in the last ten matches in a good way. One league is a marathon. Each match is one kilometre. There are a lot. Now we have to put the focus on the first kilometre. Football is like this — step by step.”

Given the Hammers’ big-spending summer, Lopetegui was asked whether the club’s eight summer signings place pressure on him deliver results immediately.

“The most important thing with your work is to be able to win,” he said. “It's true and normal that we have a lot of new players, a new coach too. In the same way, the Premier League is tough. We have to be ready to have a good answer and to be competitive.

Fans have dreams. They're waiting for new signings but after it's about rhythm. You have to walk before you can run

“About the expectation, fans have dreams. They're waiting for new signings but after it's about rhythm. It might sound a little bit boring, but it's the only way I understand. You have to walk before you can run. First we walk, then we run.”

West Ham find themselves without European football for the first time in four years. Asked whether a lighter schedule is an advantage, the Hammers’ head coach replied: “I always prefer to play Europe. Always. Always.

“The best way to prepare for the season is to have matches and to have different competitions. But the situation is: we have to put the focus on the league after Carabao [Cup] and after FA Cup too. We are going to have enough competitions to be able to compete, improve, and show what we are able to do.”

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