Julen Lopetegui ‘warned he will be SACKED if West Ham’s results do not improve’ – with Hammers still struggling to move on after David Moyes’ exit
West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui has reportedly been warned he will be sacked if results do not improve.
The Hammers are floundering in 14th in the Premier League and sank to a 3-0 pummelling at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, with Edson Alvarez getting sent off.
It was the second time in three weeks they have suffered a battering as they also lost 4-1 at Tottenham, though they did beat Manchester United 2-1.
This is the second occasion Lopetegui has been cautioned about the team’s form by his bosses and there is particular pressure on Saturday’s home game against Everton, according to The Times.
West Ham handed Lopetegui a two-year contract in the summer with the idea of injecting some flair into their football after a sucessful but direct style under David Moyes.
Julen Lopetegui has reportedly been warned he will be sacked if results do not improve
The Spaniard watched as West Ham lost 3-0 to high-flying Nottingham Forest on Saturday
But his football has not been as refreshing as expected and the Hammers are porous at the back, having conceded 19 goals in 10 games – the third-worst record in the Premier League. They also suffered a 5-1 shellacking at Liverpool in the third round of the Carabao Cup.
Slow starts have been a problem. They have gone behind first in six Premier League matches so far, conceding within a minute to Brentford and inside four to Aston Villa.
West Ham have also been given three red cards this season in all competitions – as many as they had last campaign.
Considering they earned just four points in their first five games, a haul of seven in their second batch is an uptick.
The Times also reports that West Ham’s hierarchy believe he can reverse their fortunes.
However, a summer spend of £122million, coupled with West Ham’s consistent top-half finished under Moyes – and the zenith of winning the Europa Conference League in 2023 – have raised expectations in East London.
Lopetegui apologised to fans after the 3-0 defeat by Forest, who have gone third above Chelsea, Arsenal, and Aston Villa. Goals from Chris Wood, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Ola Aina did the trick.
‘After the second goal it was a very different match and it was a hard day for us and for our fans too. That’s why we have to say first of all sorry for our fans,’ he said.
West Ham may have been direct under David Moyes but they enjoyed a period of great success
The Hammers sit 14th in the Premier League having lost five out of 10 matches this season
‘We are very disappointed today and we have to use these hard moments to push forward and to look forward to the next challenge.
‘We know that, even if you are showing control [in the early part of the match], you have to avoid the counter-attack, you have to defend the crosses better.
‘It happened that they scored a goal in this action and after the goal it was more difficult for us.’
