Martin O’Neill shares Julen Lopetegui sack verdict after West Ham United loss v Chelsea
Martin O’Neill believes it is far too early to judge Julen Lopetegui after West Ham lost 3-0 to Chelsea on Saturday (21 September).
Goals from Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer saw the Hammers condemned to their third Premier League defeat of the season, now sitting fourteenth in the table and three points above the relegation zone.
Performances have seen Lopetegui come under immense pressure already, having only replaced David Moyes as manager during the summer.
Speaking live via talkSPORT on Monday (23 September, 12:09pm), O’Neill said: “Simon just pointed out to me the teams they’ve played so far – Aston Villa, Manchester City and Chelsea. They would’ve known when the fixtures came out, those matches were difficult.
“The main issue for West Ham is that they were so easy to play through. Chelsea have got some talented players, who can cause problems, but they made it look so easy.
“It’s unfair of me to say from a distance but, the players who lost the ball took ages to get back into position, weren’t picking up their players, and just letting players run past them.
“Those are concerning things for any manager at this stage. Back to the question, I wouldn’t be rushing to judgment now after just four or five games, especially with a manager of his calibre.”
Julen Lopetegui at risk of West Ham United sack?
The Spaniard’s tenure has certainly not gotten off to the best start, winning just one Premier League game in five attempts and scraping past Bournemouth in the EFL Cup.
Much of the criticism aimed at Lopetegui by the passionate fanbase is understandable, such as Jean-Clair Todibo’s absence from the starting XI and the striker choices.
Of course, he has not been helped out by Niclas Fullkrug’s new injury, leaving him with Michail Antonio and Danny Ings as striker options. But with Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus capable of playing as a false-nine, there is no excuse.
There is absolutely no way the Hammers’ hierarchy will already be thinking about switching from Lopetegui, having cast aside David Moyes so easily, but he needs to prove himself very soon.
With no European football to worry about, fans will be hoping for a top-six finish. Finishing in the second half of the table would be catastrophic for the new manager already.
In other West Ham news, Henry Winter was left “bemused” by a controversial moment v Chelsea, “When does bread become toast”.
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