Julen Lopetegui has had a full week to work with the most of his players as West Ham take on Chelsea in the Premier League.
West Ham vs Chelsea is one of the most underestimated rivalries in English football.
Make no mistake there is no love lost between West Ham and Chelsea on or off the pitch.
So Julen Lopetegui must ensure his Hammers side put in a far better performance against the Blues than initial showings under him.
Some fans are already voicing concerns over Lopetegui off the back of his team selections so far.
The 57-year-old has been rather harshly likened to a pensioner with a collection of high-end sports cars at West Ham.
Chelsea have plenty of their own luxury vehicles but the kind of young, modern, attack-minded coach many West Ham fans wanted their club to appoint to succeed Moyes.
Supporters of both West Ham and Chelsea know it will take time for Lopetegui and former Hammers assistant boss Enzo Maresca – to implement their styles and philosophies.
After all with so many new players, getting them to gel is not easy.
Lopetegui makes single West Ham change for Chelsea?
But Lopetegui has been leaving West Ham supporters frustrated by drip-feeding signings into Premier League action so far.
It has given rise to conspiracy theories that he’s not a fan of some of the signings, which were conducted by technical director Tim Steidten.
One thing is for certain, Lopetegui needs to settle on his best XI soon if West Ham are going to compete for a European place.
West Ham have had two injury concerns going into the match with Chelsea.
Niclas Fullkrug and Emerson Palmieri have barely trained this week.
Many Hammers fans have been calling for Michail Antonio, Tomas Soucek and Konstantinos Mavropanos to be dropped.
They want them to make way for Crysencio Summerville, Lucas Paqueta and Jean-Clair Todibo.
Supporters also want to see Mohammed Kudus on the right or central and – if Fullkrug is unavailable – Jarrod Bowen up top.
There may be more bad news than good for those wanting to see those changes, though.
One change but it should be three as Antonio starts again?
Because Lopetegui looks set to make a single West Ham change for Chelsea but it should be three.
Hammers News predicts only Paqueta will come into the side, in place of Soucek.
That means Antonio starting up front yet again despite being berated by Lopetegui during a dismal first half at Fulham before being hauled off at half-time.
It was felt that would be Antonio’s last chance as a starter.
But we think he will be leading the line for West Ham yet again.
That will mean Kudus on left once more and Bowen on the right.
Footage from training this week did nothing to suggest Todibo might be ready to start. He was still looking a touch rusty.
And Lopetegui may have made a rod for his own back with that situation as the Frenchman will now be playing catch-up for match fitness while the rest of the league is up to full speed.
It’s a shame for Summerville too as he has looked sharp in training and during cameos.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Chelsea:
Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson, Rodriguez, Alvarez, Paqueta, Kudus, Bowen, Antonio.
West Ham vs Chelsea kicks off at 12.30pm at the London Stadium.
Official teams will be announced at 11.15pm.
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