Jeff Stelling moots ‘Massive’ week for West Ham United after what he saw
Julen Lopetegui faces a “massive” week at West Ham as he prepares for a reunion with former side Wolves, Jeff Stelling has said.
Speaking on talkSPORT (3 December, 8:07am), Stelling said that following an inconsistent run of results at the start of his time in charge at the London Stadium, Irons fans remain unconvinced by Lopetegui.
The Hammers head to Leicester City on Tuesday following a 5-2 drubbing by Arsenal on 30 November, before facing Lopetegui’s former employers six days later in what could be a must-win home match.
Stelling said: “(West Ham fans) have never really been 100 per cent convinced by Julen Lopetegui, have they?
“It’s a massive week for them, because after this (Leicester), they then have Wolves – his old club – coming up in their next game.”
Julen Lopetegui must make statement ahead of West Ham v Wolves
Lopetegui’s record in English football before becoming the Hammers’ new manager was hardly spectacular, having won 10, drawn 6 and lost 11 of his mere 27 matches while in charge at Molineux.
Departing on the eve of the 2023/24 season owing to disagreements with the board, few Wolves fans will look back on Lopetegui’s time in the West Midlands with much fondness.
If the Spaniard were to be sacked at West Ham tomorrow, the feeling amongst Irons fans would likely be similar, with Lopetegui’s time in charge thus far marred by inconsistency and some heavy defeats.
The 5-2 reverse at home to Arsenal – with four of those goals coming inside the opening half-hour – was the latest in a string of fixtures against the top teams in which Lopetegui’s side have been thumped.
With lowly Leicester coming up next, Lopetegui has the perfect opportunity to enter his reunion against Wolves with a spring in his step, but this season’s form suggests that’s far from likely to occur.
In other West Ham news, Lopetegui is predicted to make two changes against Leicester as the Irons welcome back a key player.
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