Julen Lopetegui, Maurizio Sarri, West Ham badge
Maurizio Sarri could replace Julen Lopetegui at West Ham (Credit - Imago)
Declan Carr
Sat 30 November 2024 12:49, UK
West Ham will be on alert after what former Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri said in an interview with The Sun.
The Italian regrets his decision to walk away from English football in 2019 after just one season in charge of Chelsea, before going on to win Serie A with Juventus.
The 65-year-old won the Europa League and guided the Blues to a top-four finish and a Carabao Cup final, but walked away due to the uncertainty over Roman Abramovich’s future.
The Sun mention the Hammers as a potential destination for Sarri and the former Lazio, Napoli and Juventus man hinted that he would like to return to England in the interview, saying: “I wanted to leave Chelsea – but only because of a particular situation. Not because of England.
“England is the top level for players, for teams, for clubs, for stadiums, for fans. For everything. So I’d like to come back.
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“If I had a team and had the opportunity to be the coach of a team at the same level I think that I could do even better.”
Julen Lopetegui still on borrowed time at West Ham
Former Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui has been under heavy pressure but relieved some of that with victory at Newcastle on Monday (25 November).
The Irons sit 14th in the Premier League after 12 matches, winning four, losing five and drawing three games.
They are six points above the relegation zone and only four points off of a European qualification place.
Julen Lopetegui
West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui
The Spaniard needs to use the result at St James’ Park to gather momentum, especially with a favourable run of matches leading up to Christmas.
The Irons face a tough task when they host Arsenal on Saturday (30 November) but then face Leicester, Wolves, Bournemouth, Brighton then Southampton before they host Liverpool.
If Lopetegui can get the right results in that time, it could fend off the club’s reported interest in the likes of Sarri, Edin Terzic, etc.
If results become bad again, though, then there are far worse options out there than Sarri to move for.
In other West Ham news, Julen Lopetegui could still make changes against Arsenal despite the Irons’ statement victory this week.
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