The fate of Julen Lopetegui will be decided on Friday and chaos behind the scenes at West Ham may prove pivotal in the board’s decision.
West Ham’s disastrous season continued with a 3-1 defeat at Leicester on Tuesday night.
It was billed a “must not lose” by West Ham’s board, who described the match as “massive” after the 5-2 defeat to Arsenal.
That’s exactly what happened, though, as more shambolic defending from the Hammers cost them dear.
Julen Lopetegui has failed to get a tune out of his expensively assembled side.
West Ham are languishing down in 14th place in the Premier League table.
Hopes that a shock win at Newcastle could be a turning point proved a false dawn.
Now David Sullivan and the board are deliberating over sacking Lopetegui.
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Lopetegui sack decision by Friday
A summit meeting is behind held to decide the Spaniard’s fate by Friday, ahead of the game against Wolves on Monday.
A growing majority of West Ham fans want the club to make a change.
Supporters have seen no evidence of what the manager has been trying to build towards.
His team selections and tactics have been criticised by fans and pundits on a weekly basis.
Lopetegui’s insistence – like Manuel Pellegrini before him – on playing a high line has been exposed time and again.
Within two minutes at Leicester the high line was undone.
Away fans turned on the manager at the King Power.
Julen Lopetegui, Manager of West Ham United, reacts during the Premier League match between Leicester City FC and West Ham United FC at The King Po...
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Sullivan confidant says West Ham fans have lied to
But there have been conflicting claims about what the owners will decide to do on Friday.
Some reports say the board are leaning more towards sacking Lopetegui. Others state he will get the Wolves game.
Besides results and performances on the pitch, the West Ham hierarchy will surely assess how the players feel about the manager as a big part of their decision.
And that may be what sees them pull the trigger.
Because a Sullivan confidant says West Ham fans have been lied to about chaos behind the scenes.
Star player Mohammed Kudus had a furious bust up with the manager at Brentford earlier this season.
Lopetegui accused Kudus of playing for himself and not the team.
The star boy, who finished second to defensive midfielder Bruno Guimaraes for ball recoveries in the entire Premier League last season, was infuriated by the accusation and the pair allegedly had to be separated.
Kudus was subbed off and was seen kicking a chair in the dugout on his return to the bench for the second half.
Alex Crook claimed there is serious unrest in the West Ham dressing room with several players ‘unconvinced’ by the manager.
A number of Hammers players have also showed public dissent towards Lopetegui.
It emerged yesterday that Lopetegui was involved in another damaging incident during the defeat to Arsenal.
General view outside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Ipswich Town FC. Inset, David Sullivan, Daniel Kretinsky, Tim Steidten, and Julen Lopetegui.
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Chaos behind the scenes doesn’t bode well for Lopetegui
The Daily Mail claim there was a heated half-time exchange between the 58-year-old and £32m summer signing Jean-Clair Todibo.
Todibo made clear his frustration during the break which escalated into a row with Lopetegui.
The report says the confrontation was not deemed serious enough for Lopetegui to substitute Todibo at half-time.
But he was missing from the squad for the dismal defeat at Leicester. The official line from Lopetegui was that Todibo had a groin injury.
Now top board source Sean Whetstone, a close confidant of Sullivan, says all is not what it seems.
Because he has revealed Todibo was training alone on the day West Ham went to Leicester.
Whetstone suggests Lopetegui was hiding the truth saying Todibo was unavailable.
It paints a picture of complete disarray in the West Ham dressing room.
And Whetstone also revealed captain Jarrod Bowen had to separate the boss and the defender during their bust-up.
“First there were reports of dressing room bust up between Julen Lopetegui and Mohammed Kudus during the Brentford game at half time back in September,” Whetstone said.
“It was suggested at the time they had to be separated and later had a peace meeting on Monday to clear the air.
“Now today we hear the same thing happened at half time at the Arsenal game at the London Stadium but this time between the head coach and Jean-Clair Todibo with Jarrod Bowen allegedly separating the pair up and acting as peace maker.
“It has been claimed that Todibo trained alone at Rush Green while the squad was in Leicester putting in doubt the head coach’s press conference claim that the player was suffering from a small groin injury.”
First there were reports of dressing room bust up between Julen Lopetegui and Mohammed Kudus during the Brentford game at half time back in September. It was suggested at the time they had to be separated and later had a peace meeting on Monday to clear the air.
Now today we… pic.twitter.com/lxuqwZ26uf
— West Ham Football (@westhamfootball) December 4, 2024
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Todibo bust-up could see West Ham’s owners pull trigger
It may be a stretch to say Lopetegui has “lost the dressing room” but it certainly sounds like they are divided.
If the manager is falling out with key players on a regular basis and not getting a reaction then something is seriously wrong.
Todibo being in the side at Leicester may have seen West Ham win the game.
So these incidents may be having a direct impact on the results of the team.
When the board meet to discuss Lopetegui’s fate, squad harmony will surely be one of the key factors in their deliberations.
It certainly should be.
And if that’s the case then it may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for Lopetegui at West Ham.
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