When Julen Lopetegui was appointed as West Ham boss he was tasked with getting the club back into contention for Europe.
If you want proof of that fact just take a look at the contract West Ham gave Julen Lopetegui.
The Hammers appointed the Spaniard on a two-year deal – although the length of his contact has never been officially disclosed.
However, if the Irons qualify for any UEFA competition in that time, a third year will automatically be triggered in Lopetegui’s deal.
Heading into the season many pundits were tipping West Ham to be European contenders.
After spending £155m on nine new players, some even suggested the Hammers might compete for a Champions League place.
Most West Ham fans were seriously underwhelmed by Lopetegui’s appointment.
But the summer window business created a real buzz around the club. Hammers supporters will give anyone a fair chance and it has been no different for Lopetegui.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Their patience has worn thin, though, after a dismal five Premier League wins from 17 games.
Rather than competing for the European spots, West Ham find themselves languishing down in 14th place – nine points off those positions due to a vastly inferior goal difference.
Ahead of a winnable run of fixtures the Hammers were given real hope their season could be salvaged – and Lopetegui’s job saved.
West Ham had Wolves, Bournemouth and Brighton before the Boxing Day trip to Southampton.
A real chance to pick up at least 10 points, if not 12 points.
Julen Lopetegui, Manager of West Ham United, looks on prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Brighton & Hove Albion F...
Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images
Hammers had high hopes for Europe
It presented a golden opportunity for West Ham to make up some ground on the European spots.
Especially when it emerged this is officially the most wide open Premier League season for 12 years.
So much so it would mean a run of results would not only catapult the Hammers back into the mix, but that the points total needed to qualify for Europe would be lower than usual.
But West Ham have continued in their totally unconvincing vein of form, riding their luck in the extreme to scrape past Wolves and take draws against Bournemouth and Brighton.
It means the east Londoners have spurned the opportunity to get back into the European mix for the second half of the season.
Many supporters are angry with the owners for not pulling the trigger on Lopetegui when they were calling for him to be sacked after the 3-1 defeat at Leicester.
The chance for fresh impetus in a bid to jump up the table has gone, though.
West Ham will be furious with Lopetegui after exciting Champions League claim
West Ham will be furious with Lopetegui after a BBC journalist’s exciting Champions League claim.
The new expanded format for UEFA’s European competitions means that there can be as many as two extra places on offer to the Premier League for the Champions League – depending on who wins the top competition and the Europa League.
Last season the Prem missed out with Italy and Germany getting those spots.
Now BBC reporter Simon Stone has revealed this season England are in line to get at least one of those extra places.
“Fifth looking like it will get Champions League next season,” Stone said.
“Bournemouth are fifth.”
The fact Andoni Iraola – a manager reportedly very much in West Ham’s sights if they do sack Lopetegui – has little old Bournemouth where West Ham fans hoped to be is galling enough.
Throw in the fact he’s doing it playing extremely attractive football and it’s downright maddening.
There have been claims Iraola is an example to West Ham’s owners not to sack Lopetegui too soon because of his initial struggles.
But while the Cherries did struggles for results initially under Iraola, the style of play and identity was there within weeks – unlike West Ham under his compatriot.
Julen Lopetegui and CL trophy inset
Photo by Kristian Skeie – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Golden chance squandered in most wide open season for 12 years
So not only are West Ham wasting the most wide open Premier League season for over a decade, it’s now clear they could have been dreaming of an outside chance of qualifying for the Champions League too.
With fifth spot looking likely to secure a place at Europe’s top table, it would also push the qualification places further down the league.
That means West Ham might have been able to get back on those European adventures their fans loved so much with a seventh or even eighth place finish.
Even that looks highly unlikely under Lopetegui, though.
When the Hammers finished sixth under David Moyes, they recorded a club record Premier League points total of 65. They were agonisingly one win off sealing a spot in the top four and the Champions League.
Newcastle and Villa have both made it in since.
This season was a huge chance for West Ham. One that may not come around again for another decade.
But it’s being squandered with West Ham unable to string even two wins together.
This fact will not be lost on the club’s owners either.
Now Lopetegui faces yet another must-win game as West Ham go to Southampton.
Regardless of an isolated win over the Saints, it’s a sin the Hammers aren’t dreaming of Europe.
The longer West Ham languish in no man’s land it all just feels like a waste of everyone’s time.
Related Posts