Julen Lopetegui, the manager of West Ham United, has a strong selection of defenders to choose from. After the club made signings in the summer, including Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo, there are now more options for the backline. Konstantinos Mavropanos, who joined West Ham earlier, is also in the mix for a starting spot. The Greek defender has been trying to prove he deserves to be a regular starter, but his recent performances have not been enough to secure his place.
On 14 November 2024, Mavropanos played for Greece in their 3-0 defeat against England in the UEFA Nations League. Unfortunately for Mavropanos, his performance in that match did not do him any favours. He struggled throughout the game, and his statistics were not impressive. Mavropanos failed to win any of his tackles and was not able to make a significant impact defensively. He did, however, manage to make one block, two interceptions, and six clearances. While these numbers aren’t terrible, they are not enough to make up for the three goals conceded by his team.
In contrast, Mavropanos did have some positive moments in the match. His passing accuracy was good, completing 89% of his passes. He also managed to complete 80% of his long balls. Additionally, he won nine of his 11 duels, which shows his ability to battle in one-on-one situations. However, these individual statistics don’t tell the full story of the match, as Mavropanos was part of a defence that allowed three goals to a strong England side. For Lopetegui, this performance will likely not be enough to earn Mavropanos a place in the starting lineup moving forward.
At West Ham, Kilman has become a regular fixture in the starting defence. The English centre-back has been a consistent performer for the team and has established himself as one of Lopetegui’s key players in the backline. Kilman’s steady performances have given him the edge over others, including Mavropanos and Todibo, who have been vying for the other centre-back spot.
Todibo, who joined the club in the same summer transfer window as Kilman, has also impressed in recent weeks. The French defender has shown his quality whenever called upon and has managed to edge out Mavropanos for the starting role in recent games. This was evident when Todibo started in the 0-0 draw against Everton on 9 November, a match where Mavropanos had hoped to make his case for a place in the lineup. Mavropanos’ absence from the starting XI in that game marked a setback in his quest for regular playing time.
The international break provided Mavropanos with an opportunity to reset and show Lopetegui what he is capable of. However, his performance for Greece against England showed that he still has a long way to go before he can challenge Kilman and Todibo for a starting position at West Ham. Given the strength of the competition for places in the West Ham defence, Mavropanos will need to improve his performances if he is to force his way back into the starting XI.
Lopetegui has made it clear that he values the depth and competition in his squad. With both Kilman and Todibo performing well, it is likely that they will remain as the first-choice centre-back pairing for West Ham. Todibo, in particular, has become an important player for the manager, and Lopetegui is keen to build his defence around the Frenchman. Mavropanos will have to fight for his place in the team, and his recent performance for Greece did not help his case.
Overall, Mavropanos’ future at West Ham remains uncertain. While he has shown flashes of ability in the past, his recent form has not been strong enough to earn him a regular place in the team. If he wants to get back into the starting XI, he will need to raise his level of play and prove that he can be a reliable option in the West Ham defence. For now, it looks like Kilman and Todibo will continue to be Lopetegui’s preferred partnership at the back. Mavropanos will need to be patient and keep working hard if he hopes to regain his place in the team.
