Lopetegui used to working under pressure amid West Ham scrutiny

West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui said he always works under pressure as the Hammers’ inconsistent form continued with a goalless draw against Everton.

Reports earlier this week suggested Lopetegui was hanging on by a thread at West Ham, with the Hammers having made a poor start to their Premier League campaign.

A flat performance for large parts on Saturday failed to offer the response West Ham fans will have wanted to see from their side following last week’s loss to Nottingham Forest.

The Hammers did, though, create the biggest chances during an improved second-half display, with Crysencio Summerville hitting the post and Jordan Pickford making a brilliant save to deny Danny Ings late on.

West Ham faced some boos from their supporters at half-time, while there was a spattering of jeers at full-time at London Stadium, but Lopetegui claimed the pressure is not telling.

“It’s normal that the fans were not happy. We’re not happy with 12 points,” he said.

“At the same time, other teams who look fantastic, only have three or four more points than us. We can do better, we’re not happy, but we can take positives. We want more, we are not happy, we will work 24/7 to achieve this.

“Sometimes it’s about the intensity, and to have the personality to do things. I think we have to improve in this. The players need to say ‘Here I am and we are going to do this’.

“I always work under pressure, this is not new. I’m very happy with the players, with the club. We are not happy with our position but we are sure we are going to be able to finish higher in May – a lot of things can change.

“We are doing good things, but not enough of them to be consistent.”

JP1. pic.twitter.com/jz6MFi3WFV

— Everton (@Everton) November 9, 2024

Everton got back on track after suffering a 1-0 defeat at Southampton last week. The Toffees could have scored through Abdoulaye Doucoure, while Jesper Lindstrom saw a header kept out by Lukasz Fabianski.

Sean Dyche said: “It’s a good point, a good clean sheet. A solid performance.

“We obviously couldn’t find that bit of edge in the attacking third and the bit of devil that is sometimes the difference, but a solid feel to the performance.

“We didn’t really give much up, away from home in the Premier League, that’s difficult. In the end, we come away wondering if that’s one we could have won, but equally, Jordan makes a fantastic save.”