Julen Lopetegui insists West Ham have to be wary of the new manager bounce again when they face Ivan Juric's Southampton
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Julen Lopetegui has warned his West Ham players to be wary of falling foul of ‘new manager bounce’ for a second time when they take on Southampton on Boxing Day. Bottom-of-the-table Saints have appointed Ivan Juric to replace Russell Martin and face the Hammers in their first game under the new boss.
![[West Ham will face Southampton, for whom Ivan Juric will be in the dugout for the first time]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/23/16/93432245-0-image-a-17_1734970570973.jpg)
West Ham were Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first opponent after he took charge at Leicester and Lopetegui’s side fell to a 3-1 defeat at the King Power Stadium – something he said his players need to make sure does not happen again. ‘As always with a new coach, there is extra energy among the players and the environment. We felt this against Leicester. It is going to be a very difficult match for us. We have to be ready.
![[Lopetegui believes West Ham will see more from Niclas Fullkrug despite his struggles]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/23/16/93432385-0-image-a-18_1734970786711.jpg)
‘Juric is a very experienced coach in Italy. For sure he’ll bring a new energy for the team when you change a coach. Above all they have good players. ‘They are a good team. Despite being at the bottom, they are a real Premier League team, they have shown it in a lot of moments. I saw them play against Fulham and other games and they have quality players.’.
Lopetegui also believes West Ham will see more from striker Niclas Fullkrug despite his disappointing first league start against Brighton. Julen Lopetegui warned his players of the new manager bounce when they face Southampton. West Ham will face Southampton, for whom Ivan Juric will be in the dugout for the first time.
Lopetegui believes West Ham will see more from Niclas Fullkrug despite his struggles. Fullkrug struggled to make an impact at the London Stadium and was withdrawn before the hour, only for the Hammers to score their equaliser less than a minute later with Jarrod Bowen moved into the middle.
