Julen Lopetegui fired sack warning as West Ham United told to make new exit decision
Chris Sutton has warned Julen Lopetegui he needs to “start showing signs of improvement” or risk increased sack pressure at West Ham United.
The Hammers boss has come in for plenty of criticism following the Irons’ 4-1 defeat to Tottenham on Saturday (19 October) with some fans and pundits alike calling for a change in the dugout.
Although BBC Sport pundit Sutton has urged the Hammers to give Lopetegui time at the London Stadium, he has fired the former Real Madrid boss a new exit warning after recent performances.
Speaking on It’s All Kicking Off (21 October, 37:20) he said: “For a pragmatic manager which everybody views him as, he hasn’t half leaked a lot of goals so far this season.
“He’s spent a fortune, what £120million or whatever it is and look he does need time, of course, he does.
“Do they have a good squad of players? Does it take time to get his own style across? It does, but he needs to start getting results.
“I know they beat Ipswich but he needs to start showing signs of improvement pretty soon or I do think the pressure will build.”
Will Julen Lopetegui exit West Ham amid London Stadium developments?
West Ham won’t want to go down the route of consistently chopping and changing managers every few months, particularly after a period of stability under David Moyes, but that doesn’t mean Lopetegui is completely safe.
The former Wolves boss has shown little in his opening few games in charge at the London Stadium to suggest that he is capable of not only dragging the Irons back into the top half but also helping them challenge for the European places.
He will almost certainly be given time to get things on track and that is undoubtedly deserved, but patience is a precious commodity in football.
Managers are very rarely given time in the modern game and the powers at be in East London will be ready to pull the trigger if and when it is needed.
Hopefully, the Hammers will bounce back from the defeat against Spurs and get back to winning ways against Manchester United on Sunday (27 October). The games certainly aren’t getting any easier.
In other West Ham news, Thomas Frank has been backed to exit Brentford to move to the London Stadium
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