There is no love lost between West Ham or bitter rival Tottenham Hotspur, but somebody had better tell Julen Lopetegui.
Dress it up whichever way you want, West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur simply do not like one another.
Millwall are West Ham’s biggest rivals and Arsenal are Tottenham’s.
But make no mistake West Ham vs Tottenham has grown into one of the big London derbies in the Premier League.
So much has gone on between the two clubs down the years.
From Lasagne-gate to an unofficial transfer embargo between the two clubs after a fallout over a deal for Emmanuel Adebayor.
From the Jermain Defoe and Michael Carrick situation to the Hammers and Spurs fighting over a stadium.
Relations in the boardroom remain frosty to this day – especially after the clubs went through the courts over an alleged spying scandal where West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady was the target.
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There have been some classic games and goals between West Ham and Spurs.
Hammers fans take great pleasure in lording their European trophy win over Tottenham, who last lifted silverware when they won the League Cup in 2008.
Battle lines have been drawn again this week as the two clubs meet in north London on Saturday lunchtime.
West Ham boss Lopetegui makes staggering Spurs admission
There is already plenty at stake beyond the usual bragging rights.
West Ham can go above Tottenham with a win.
That would pile pressure on Ange Postecoglou after the collapse against Brighton before the international break.
The jury is still out on whether Postecoglou’s unique style and approach can bring success to Spurs.
West Ham will be among the rivals sincerely hoping he doesn’t. Not least because vice-chair Brady – far from the most popular person in east London – predicted the Australian would.
Helping prove the Baroness wrong would be just as satisfying as beating Spurs for many of the Hammers faithful.
West Ham have a new-look team after a big summer overhaul.
But the players need to be in no doubt – this is a game they simply must be up for.
There can be no repeat of the passive, insipid performances already witnessed against the likes of Chelsea.
The problem is somebody needs to tell the manager.
Hammers boss concedes Tottenham are his guilty pleasure
Because West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has put his foot in his mouth with a staggering Spurs admission.
Speaking ahead of the game, Lopetegui has admitted Postecoglou’s Tottenham are his guilty pleasure.
It’s one thing being honest.
But West Ham’s head coach has raved about his club’s fierce rivals and says he loves to watch them.
“We’re focused 100 per cent on the next challenge against one of the best teams in the Premier League,” Lopetegui said in his press conference, which you can watch below.
“They have really good intensity, players and ideas. I like to watch them…
“I think Ange changed a lot of things in their team.
“In my opinion, he made their players and team better and that’s why I like to see this team. They work together.
“But we have to put the focus on us and have an answer because we have to be on it to get the win.”
Sorry what?
This is both naive and a touch embarrassing.
Somebody needs to make it abundantly clear to Lopetegui what this game means.
He did acknowledge that West Ham fans ‘will demand the best from us’.
But this sends the wrong message to the players, who need to be under no illusions about this particular match.
Talking Tottenham up like they’re world beaters won’t sit well with supporters and could have the players taking the wrong mindset into the game.
Sometimes certain things are best left unsaid, ‘mate’.
Especially when you are still trying to win over your own fanbase.