Arne Engels makes bold West Ham home vow before Wolves clash
Arne Engels wants West Ham United to turn London Stadium into a fortress as the Hammers prepare for Tuesday night’s crucial Championship meeting with Wolves.
West Ham remain without a league victory after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Watford left Nuno Espírito Santo’s side with only two points from their opening three matches.
But Engels believes the upcoming run of home fixtures gives the Hammers an opportunity to change the mood and build a stronger connection with supporters.
“We want to build something at home that nobody’s winning from us there.”
"It's up to us to now reflect on this game and just go on from this because we did really well, we controlled the game really well, and think we created a lot so, now it's just we need to score. I'm sure that everything will go well. I'm sure things will go better."
West Ham host Wolves on Tuesday 1 September, with both relegated clubs looking to establish themselves in the Championship promotion race.
Engels believes Nuno’s side cannot allow opportunities to collect points at London Stadium to slip away.
The Belgium international also stressed that West Ham have a responsibility to create the right atmosphere through their performances and results, saying it is up to the players to develop that feeling with the supporters.
That message feels particularly significant after the weekend.
The Hammers have drawn with Burnley and Watford while losing at home to Charlton during their opening three league fixtures.
London Stadium run gives West Ham chance to respond
West Ham now enter an important sequence of matches.
After Wolves, Nuno’s side host Derby County before travelling to Bolton and then returning to London Stadium to face Wrexham.
Our analysis of the five-game test facing Nuno outlined how quickly that run could change the mood surrounding the head coach.
Tuesday therefore represents more than simply another opportunity to secure West Ham’s first Championship victory.
Engels wants the Hammers to establish an identity at home in which visiting teams expect an extremely difficult afternoon or evening.
West Ham’s only home league fixture so far ended in a disappointing 2-1 defeat against Charlton, meaning that reputation has yet to be established.
Engels wants West Ham fans back behind team
The relationship with supporters will be just as important.
West Ham’s 1-1 draw at Watford produced another performance in which possession did not translate into enough clear attacking opportunities.
Nuno subsequently called for supporters to continue believing in his players, while Engels has now echoed the importance of rebuilding that connection.
A victory against a direct promotion rival would be an obvious place to start.
West Ham have not enjoyed the Championship opening they expected, but a run of home matches gives them an immediate opportunity to respond.
Engels has now set the standard: West Ham want London Stadium to become a place where opponents stop expecting to leave with points.
