Just over a week ago Julen Lopetegui was reportedly close to tears as he begged West Ham’s owners not to sack him.
The Hammers hierarchy held an emergency meeting last Thursday after West Ham’s defeat at Leicester.
Split six ways and unable to reach a definite decision, majority owner David Sullivan and Daniel Kretinsky ultimately decided to give Julen Lopetegui one more chance.
That came, it’s since been reported, after an emotional Lopetegui pleased with Sullivan not to cut him loose.
Fans have been angered by the decision.
Even more so after another poor performance in the fortunate 2-1 win over Wolves on Monday night.
That kept the Spaniard in the job for another week.
But reports abound that Lopetegui’s future is still very much under threat.
Indeed a host of well-connected journalists including Ben Jacobs, Jacob Steinberg, Smi Mokbel and Jack Rosser have claimed the 58-year-old could be sacked if West Ham suffer a poor defeat at the Vitality.
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Hammers fans have criticised the board for putting the club into a bizarre purgatory.
They feel an isolated win over poor opposition like Wolves proves little.
West Ham’s owners agree and have demanded better in the coming matches.
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Hammers board make it clear to Lopetegui he’s still on the brink
Stories of unrest and bust-ups have dogged Lopetegui’s tenure since arriving in east London.
The latest saw Mohammed Kudus show public dissent towards the boss against Wolves.
That came after a physical altercation between Jean-Clair Todibo and Lopetegui during half-time of the 5-2 defeat to Arsenal.
Lopetegui has confirmed the incident with Todibo but insisted it was ‘nothing important’.
Reports have claimed a punch was thrown and Jarrod Bowen had to intervene.
Todibo was made to train with the Under 21s and was dropped from the team as punishments.
West Ham’s owners have ordered Lopetegui to build bridges with the disgruntled stars.
They have warned him failure to improve squad harmony could get him fired just as imminently as bad results.
Now a top West Ham star has shared a remarkable talk Lopetegui has had with players about being sacked.
Tomas Soucek has been huge for Lopetegui this season.
The Hammers fan favourite was expected to be one of the big casualties of the managerial change.
But ever-reliable Soucek continues to prove he’s a key player, scoring in the 2-1 win over Wolves.
According to the big Czech, Lopetegui has addressed the fact he could be sacked soon with the dressing room.
Julen Lopetegui, Manager of West Ham United looks on ahead of the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at...
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Remarkable talk Lopetegui had with players about being sacked
And the ex Real Madrid and Spain boss is either deluded, has unshakable self-belief or is putting on a brave face.
Because according to Soucek, he’s told the players he is loving the pressure placed on him by the board and fans.
“Yea he spoke with us about that (being told he could be sacked if things don’t improve),” Soucek said on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday (1.30pm).
“He said to us that he loves the pressure because it’s always the way in football.
“He loved the pressure when he was still a player and now he’s the coach, it’s the same.
“It’s great that he shared these (honest) words with us and he told us we should enjoy the pressure because one day we won’t play the football and we will miss this pressure.”
Fair play to Soucek for his honesty.
It’s hard to know what to make of what Lopetegui has said, though.
Lopetegui knows he’s finished in England if West Ham fire him
Last week he’s close to tears begging for his job, now he says he loves the pressure.
One thing is it seems he is at least determined to remain West Ham manager.
There’s a lot to be said for that.
But we must remember that if Lopetegui is sacked by West Ham after walking out on Wolves then his career may well be finished at the top level – especially in England.
They say to be a good manager you need to be a lucky manager.
Lopetegui has certainly had plenty of luck.
Three of his five league wins have been fortunate in the extreme.
West Ham have also had fewer injuries than any other Premier League side.
The owners will have to choose a path one way or another in the coming weeks.
We will soon find out just how Lopetegui performs under the heightened pressure.
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