Maximilian Kilman hopes West Ham United can pick up where they left off with victory over Ipswich Town by making it back-to-back wins at Tottenham Hotspur, outlining the players' determination to maintain their momentum as the intensity of the fixture schedule ramps up.
Julen Lopetegui’s squad returned to the Rush Green this week following the second international break of 2024/25, with the Hammers’ immediate focus now on the weekend clash with rivals Tottenham.
Kilman has been ever-present at the heart of defence in the early stages of the campaign. In fact, he has started and played 90 minutes of every single Premier League and Carabao Cup match under the Spaniard this season.
With a difficult run of games approaching, which includes taking on top-four hopefuls Tottenham and Manchester United before a trip to Nottingham Forest, Kilman is relishing another big date in Claret and Blue and is aiming for the same outcome as last season’s result in north London.
“We can’t wait for it,” Kilman told whufc.com. “I’ve heard from the players what it means to the Club and the fans. But that is something to enjoy. These are the type of games you want to be involved in. As a player, I love the challenge of these sorts of games, so it is a game that we all have to be excited for.
“There’s a lot of pressure in the games, especially with it being a derby, but this is why we play football, and I feel I thrive under the pressure of performing.”
West Ham’s final outing before the international break was, of course, the commanding 4-1 home win over the Ipswich, which secured Lopetegui’s first home win as manager, while the Irons are undefeated away from home in the Premier League this season.
When asked to sum up the mood around Rush Green, Kilman replied: “I think everyone’s becoming closer as a squad, and there is now a real togetherness. I think I can speak on behalf of the new players when I say that we’ve all felt really welcome.
“It was a dominant win [against Ipswich Town], a really good performance, and it was good to get our first home win of the season. It’s given us a lot of confidence as a team, as players, and to the supporters too.
“A win like that can really help us build momentum. The Premier League is the toughest league in the world, and every team is very competitive whether it’s home or away, so it’s important to try and win as many games as possible and be as consistent as we can.
“There’s been ups and downs throughout the early season, but we’ve got a new manager, a new squad, and it’s going to take time, but we’re in a good position now and are getting stronger each week. We’re in a good position now and have been working really hard, and the understanding [of how the manager wants them to play] is getting there, so it’s a great time to go and play this weekend against Tottenham.”
Kilman says the international break provides players who haven't been selected for their respective countries to recharge the batteries and gives them time to reflect on ways the Hammers can get even better.
The defender spent a couple of days with his girlfriend in Rome, Italy, and just so happened to bump into West Ham team-mate Aaron Cresswell while enjoying the sun.
“We had a bit of time to train, and then the players went away with their countries on international duty,” he added. “We were given some time off, so I went to Rome for a couple of days with my girlfriend and ended up meeting Cress [Aaron Cresswell] out there, so we made sure to have a run around Rome together. It was really nice to see a new city and reflect on the opening part of the season. We’re now back to work and raring to go.”