Julen Lopetegui has been speaking to the press ahead of West Ham’s big Premier League clash at Bournemouth on Monday night.
The game is big because speculation continues to swirl around the future of Julen Lopetegui at West Ham.
This time last week, West Ham fans were fully expecting to be reading an announcement that the Spaniard had been sacked.
Hammers fans had turned on him in the 3-1 defeat at Leicester and called for his head.
An emergency meeting of the board revealed a six-way split, though.
As a result no definitive decision was reached and Lopetegui was given one more game to save his bacon.
It has been par for the course so far this season that West Ham get a result every time the manager’s job is on the line.
The narrow 2-1 win over woeful Wolves was far from convincing, though.
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In fact it was so fortunate, West Ham’s owners have demanded better – starting at Bournemouth.
David Sullivan and Julen Lopetegui.
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West Ham boss Lopetegui drops hugely exciting Fullkrug hint
As a result, journalists including The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg, The Mail’s Sami Mokbel and The Sun’s Jack Rosser have all claimed this week that Lopetegui’s job remains on the line at the Vitality.
Graham Potter is said to have already agreed to take over West Ham if Lopetegui is sacked.
The Cherries will be no easy task.
Andoni Iraola has Bournemouth flying high and playing some wonderful attacking football.
Many are predicting a chastening defeat if West Ham perform as they have in the last three matches.
Michail Antonio was dropped at Leicester but Danny Ings was just as bad in his stead.
Antonio then suffered a broken leg in his horrific car crash which has ended his season, if not his career.
With a severe lack of forward options and Niclas Fullkrug only just back from three months out, it gives the team a major issue.
There may be some welcome good news, though.
Because Lopetegui has dropped a hugely exciting Fullkrug hint but is worried about West Ham duo.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Lopetegui has hinted big German striker Fullkrug is ready to start if needed.
That’s despite not being used at all in the win over Wolves.
Niclas Fullkrug of West Ham United during the Premier League match between Leicester City FC and West Ham United FC at The King Power Stadium on De...
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Lopetegui has worry over mystery West Ham duo
The Hammers boss insists Fullkrug is now fully over his Achilles and calf injury with no ill-effects.
And he is ‘ready’ to go.
However, Lopetegui also conceded West Ham have two big injury concerns for the clash with Bournemouth.
But he did not go as far as to name them.
“We are with two little issues that we had in the last days, so we are going to check (on them) in the next days about it and to take a decision,” Lopetegui said.
“I think that Fulle (Fullkrug) is improving step by step.
Fullkrug finally ‘ready’ from start if needed says Lopetegui
“He has been a long time out for the injury that he had. Now he has recovered himself and day-by-day his body is getting better.
“I think it’s good news for us that he has come back and he’s going to be ready to help us.
“But let’s see (if he starts), let’s see. But step-by-step he’s better, he feels better, he feels stronger so ok we can use him in any moment.
“About his injury, yes, yes for sure he recovered (100 per cent) that’s why he is working for us the last 10 days. So he is ready yes.”
That’s great news.
West Ham are sorely missing a focal point up front.
Nothing tells you that more than the fact the Hammers have had a remarkable 50 shots in their last two games but scored only three goals.
Whether Fullkrug is the missing piece remains to be seen.
For Lopetegui’s sake, he’d better hope so.
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