Julen Lopetegui could face early sack at West Ham United as EFL chairman speaks out
Julen Lopetegui could face the sack at West Ham United early on if his side fails to perform in the first few weeks of the season, according to Darragh MacAnthony.
The chairman of Peterborough United made the point on talkSPORT (5 August, 12:26) in a debate about West Ham this coming season.
The Irons have lost twice to Premier League opposition in pre-season, with 3-1 defeats to Wolves and Crystal Palace, and MacAnthony has hinted that Lopetegui’s fate at Wolves could follow him to East London if results don’t improve.
He said: “A lot of the fans were happy to see a change, but it’ll be interesting if he has a bad start – let’s see what happens in the first 10 weeks.
“At Wolves it became quite bitter. If the fans at London Stadium see a few 0-0s and the play is static and boring, it’ll be interesting to see what happens.”
Julen Lopetegui needs to improve West Ham form ahead of new season
The excitement of the transfer window has swept West Ham fans in the past week and has distracted from the side’s poor performances in pre-season.
A 1-0 win over Dagenham & Redbridge (20 July) is the only victory Lopetegui has to show for his efforts this summer and doubts are starting to creep in on his ability to lead the side this season.
There is no cause to raise the alarm bells just yet, though. New signing Crysencio Summerville will most likely play in the final friendly against Celta Vigo and impending signings Niclas Fullkrug and Guido Rodriguez could also feature in the match.
West Ham are also negotiating a deal with Manchester United for right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Sky Sports, 31 July) as Tim Steidten provides Lopetegui with the ammunition to mount an assault on the European places this term.
The 57-year-old recognised there was room for improvement following the loss to Wolves (WHUFC.com, 28 July), and the loss to Palace shows that there won’t be a quick fix at the London Stadium. Supporters will need to be patient as the club undergoes a summer of transition.
Far too often are owners are too quick to jump the gun and sack an underperforming manager. Lopetegui is building a side in his image at West Ham, and talk of his departure before he has managed a Premier League game is absurd, and borderline fearmongering.
In other West Ham news, the weekly wage that Niclas Fullkrug is set to receive has been shared.
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