Julen Lopetegui manager of West Ham
Julen Lopetegui manager of West Ham (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui is calling on his players to rise to the occasion amidst growing pressure as he seeks to secure his position at the helm.
After a challenging six months in charge, culminating in a 3-1 loss at Leicester and a staggering 5-2 home defeat to Arsenal, Lopetegui has found himself under mounting scrutiny with the Hammers holding just 15 points from 14 games.
Taking over from David Moyes in the summer, he has refused to point fingers at his squad for their struggles and remains positive about turning the tide, especially with a critical match against his ex-club Wolves on the horizon.
"The players have to be demanding and to be ready to enjoy this problem, in spite of the bad moments, to be able to enjoy this pressure," he asserted.
Emphasising his role, he added, "This pressure is for me. I accept the pressure, that is why I am coach."
With seven losses out of an inaugural 14 league matches, Lopetegui has yet to win over a skeptical fanbase, but despite the debates surrounding his role post-Leicester loss, the West Ham board continues to back him for now. The former head of Spain, Real Madrid, and Sevilla has pledged to stay faithful to his principles and methods as he strives to turn around the club's fate.
"There is no one way to be secure (in your job)," he stated, highlighting his commitment to his approach to management.
"We are aware about the kind of players and the kind of strengths and weaknesses that we can have."
"That is why you always have to work about this kind of situation. We did this and we are going to do the same. Always you have a lot of things to improve."