Mirror Online sports editor and West Ham United Season Ticket Holder Matty Lawless reflects on a successful first night and looks ahead to stern tests to come...
Well, how about that for a house warming party?
West Ham put in a performance befitting of our magnificent new home on Thursday, giving 54,000 fans a glorious taste of things to come here.
If this really is the future, then sign me up for more of it. European football must become a permanent fixture – fans want it and so do the players.
It was good to see Slaven Bilic’s side thrive in the atmosphere. It could have been easy to have froze. But they set tone early from the outset and shone.
If any rival Premier League managers were watching, they won’t relish the prospect of facing Slaven Bilic’s side here if that’s what they’ll have to contend with.
Let’s be honest though, if you were walking out through that tunnel you would probably feel compelled to put in a performance worthy of giving the place justice. It’s world class.
But with the greatest respect to NB Domzale, we can now look forward to seeing West Ham come up against some genuine world class opposition, starting with our Play-off round clash with Romanian champions Astra Giurgiu.
Sunday afternoon presents the truest test of whether Bilic’s men are ready to handle the great expectations now set upon them – in more than one way.
Chelsea will be a different proposition under Antonio Conte
There was talk that Sunday’s game would be against Barcelona. But in Juventus, West Ham couldn’t have asked for a better team to face ahead of next the Premier League curtain-raiser at Chelsea.
Yes, Sunday is all about the official opening ceremony of the stadium. Yet the focus has to be on Stamford Bridge a week next Monday. And for that, playing Juventus are absolutely the ideal preparation for Chelsea away.
As opening games come, it’s far from desirable. When I saw it in June, I must confess I felt slightly queasy. For me, there’s a real nervousness.
Why? Antonio Conte.
The Italian is a man on a mission. He is a winner. He is relentless in the pursuit of success. And he arrives in England with the expectation of restoring the Blues into a formidable force.
After last season’s dire title defence, Chelsea know the can ill-afford another season without Champions League football. Make no mistake, that won’t happen again this season.
They have strengthened in key areas, so it’s no surprise to see many pundits backing Chelsea to launch a title charge.
Michy Batshuayi and N’Golo Kante are quality signings. Keeping hold of Eden Hazard was the real masterstroke. Expect him the rediscover his magic this term, especially if he plays in a central role.
Chelsea now have serious strength in depth – and Conte will provide tactical discipline and install a competitive hunger.
Hand me a draw now and I’d take it. Perhaps that’s a bit of the “old West Ham” coming out in me.
A win over Juve – a team Conte truly fashioned into unstoppable Italian champions – would underline why there are so many reasons to feel positive as part of the “new West Ham”.
Last season, I correctly predicted the Hammers would beat Arsenal 2-0 on the opening day of the season at the Emirates. The rest, as we all know, is history. So, I’ll stick my neck on the line and say 2-0 again... with Dimitri Payet returning with a masterclass.
Enjoy the game on Sunday – with the likes of Gonzalo Higuain and Gigi Buffon in town, we are surely all in for a real treat!
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily the opinions held by West Ham United.