David Ornstein reveals what West Ham source told him about Julen Lopetegui
West Ham United “like to honour contracts” but are well aware of the scrutiny on Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten, David Ornstein has been told.
Speaking on Threads (11 November), Ornstein said that a “very well-placed” Hammers source told him that the club’s hierarchy are still hopeful that Lopetegui can turn things around at the London Stadium.
The Spaniard and sporting director Tim Steidten have both come under fire following a poor start to the new season, but for the time being at least, Irons decision-makers are hesitant to pull the trigger.
Ornstein said: “Of course, pressure on Julen Lopetegui, but a source very well-placed has said to me today: they’re disappointed by results but they like to honour contracts – they hope and expect things to change.
“There will be scrutiny on him because the fans are turning. There will be scrutiny on Tim Steidten, the sporting director who bought Lopetegui in, and so many of the players in the summer window.
“He lives on for now, but it is delicate there.”
Julen Lopetegui given another lifeline by West Ham United
What was billed as a dream partnership of head coach and sporting director early in the summer transfer window, has instead proven to be a nightmare in the opening 11 matches of the Premier League season.
Lopetegui and Steidten in particular – both in their first summers in charge at the London Stadium – have shaped a new-look Hammers squad which appears to be woefully unequipped on the evidence so far.
While Max Kilman, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Guido Rodriguez have become regulars, Luis Guilherme, Carlos Soler and the injured Niclas Fullkrug have hardly had a kick in claret and blue.
That’s not to say Lopetegui hasn’t been backed – the Irons spent over £120million and signed Rodriguez at his request [Daily Mail, 24 October] – but strange recruitment and tactical decisions have created a dysfunctional outfit.
It’s still too early in the season to make a concrete call on the pair’s futures, but for Lopetegui at least, pressure will only grow the longer he fails to get a tune out of his expensively-assembled amalgam.
In other West Ham news, Andy Townsend has highlighted what he thinks is the biggest problem the Irons are facing so far this term.
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