West Ham United’s Lopetegui Impresses In His First Premier League Game
Lopetegui's West Ham United debut ends in a creditable draw
West Ham United and Manchester United played out a thrilling 1-1 draw at the London Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday. Julen Lopetegui's first game in charge of the Hammers ended in a creditable draw, with both sides creating chances to win the game. Said Benrahma gave West Ham an early lead with a stunning strike from outside the box, but Bruno Fernandes equalised for Manchester United just before half-time.
Manchester United dominated possession in the second half, but they were unable to find a winning goal, with David de Gea making a number of fine saves to deny the visitors. West Ham also had chances to win the game, with Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen both going close. In the end, a draw was probably a fair result, with both sides showing encouraging signs for the season ahead.
Positives for West Ham under Lopetegui
There were a number of positives for West Ham to take from the game. Lopetegui's side showed great character to come from behind and earn a draw against a strong Manchester United team. The Hammers also played with a lot of energy and intensity and looked well-organised defensively.
Benrahma was particularly impressive for West Ham, scoring a wonderful goal and causing Manchester United problems all afternoon. The Algerian winger looks like he could be a key player for Lopetegui this season.
Areas for improvement for West Ham
While there were many positives for West Ham, there were also some areas for improvement. The Hammers struggled to create chances in the second half and were often too reliant on long balls. They also need to be more clinical in front of goal. Antonio and Bowen both had chances to win the game, but they were unable to take them.
Overall, it was a positive start for Lopetegui as West Ham manager. The Hammers showed a lot of spirit and determination, and they looked well-organised defensively. There are still some areas for improvement, but Lopetegui will be pleased with his team's performance.