“This isn’t on Lopetegui” Sutton Backs Lopetegui over Chelsea defeat while pointing Blame to make SHOCKING West Ham MAJOR Problem that has been EXISTING even before Moyes sack.
West Ham suffered their third consecutive home league defeat of the season for the first time in their history, falling 3-0 to Chelsea at the London Stadium on Saturday (21 September). While many fans have placed the blame on Julen Lopetegui, BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton suggests that the club’s sporting director, Tim Steidten, should be held accountable for replacing David Moyes with another “pragmatist.”
Speaking on *It’s All Kicking Off* on Monday (23 September), Sutton said, “This isn’t on Lopetegui, it’s on the decision-makers. I think the sporting director, Steidten, was actively speaking to other managers while David Moyes was still in charge, and Moyes eventually banned him from the changing room and training ground.”
Sutton continued, “Steidten is paid a lot of money to make the right decisions, and I think most of us expected West Ham to appoint a manager who would play a more expansive style of football. Instead, they replaced Moyes with a similar manager—both are pragmatists.”
While Lopetegui’s managerial experience, including his time at Real Madrid, is undeniable, there were concerns that his tactical approach wouldn’t differ much from Moyes’. Early in the season, those fears seem to be coming true, with little sign that Lopetegui will bring back the attacking “West Ham way” fans had hoped for.
Sutton added that Lopetegui cannot be blamed for this, as the club knew what type of manager they were appointing. Fans may need to focus their frustration more on Steidten and the decision-makers who hired him, rather than on Lopetegui himself.