Lopetegui in danger of being sacked? Club Insider reveal Coach London Stadium future stance despite recent speculation from Tottenham blunder.
Julen Lopetegui is not facing an immediate dismissal at West Ham, despite growing concerns over the club’s poor start to the season. After suffering a 4-1 defeat to Tottenham, which left the Hammers in 15th place, the club remains committed to giving Lopetegui time to implement his ideas following his appointment as David Moyes’s successor last summer.
The club is wary of making any knee-jerk decisions, especially as Lopetegui is trying to embed a new playing style and integrate 10 new summer signings. However, there is significant unease about the early results under his leadership, and his position could come under review if performances don’t improve by Christmas.
The former Wolves manager is under pressure to deliver better results before the international break next month, with upcoming fixtures against Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, and Everton. West Ham could be without Mohammed Kudus for some of those games after his red card against Spurs, which could lead to a ban of more than three matches. Kudus was sent off for violent conduct after clashes with Micky van de Ven, Pape Matar Sarr, and Richarlison.
Kudus’s actions capped a dismal second half against Spurs, where West Ham conceded three goals in eight minutes. The Ghanaian winger had previously clashed with Lopetegui after being substituted at half-time during a draw with Brentford last month, though he responded by scoring in a 4-1 win against Ipswich shortly afterward.
West Ham hopes that the Ipswich performance reflects the true potential of their squad, though their difficult start to the season has been marked by tough fixtures against Aston Villa, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Spurs. They also exited the Carabao Cup after a 5-1 defeat to Liverpool.
Internal concerns have been raised about the club’s recruitment following a summer outlay of over £100 million. Tim Steidten, the technical director, played a key role in signing Germany striker Niclas Füllkrug for £27.5 million, but the forward has struggled with injury and is yet to score. Additionally, despite bolstering the defense with players like Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Max Kilman, and Jean-Clair Todibo, West Ham has conceded 15 goals in eight games and continues to lack pace in midfield, as highlighted in their defeat to Spurs.