Julen Lopetegui, West Ham badge
Julen Lopetegui, West Ham head coach [Credit: Imago].
Jonathan Burnett
Tue 24 December 2024 8:33, UK
Julen Lopetegui is “safe for now” with West Ham clear of relegation trouble and reluctant to sack managers mid-season, according to the Daily Mirror.
The Mirror reported on 24 December that despite Lopetegui being under pressure from very early on in his tenure at the London Stadium, the 58-year-old isn’t likely to be shown the door for the time being.
Speculation that a defeat to Southampton on Boxing Day could result in Lopetegui being given the boot is seemingly wide of the mark, though the Spaniard is yet to win over large swathes of the Irons’ fanbase.
Lopetegui has won just five of his first 17 Premier League games since taking charge in East London with the Hammers 14th in the table, but they sit a comfortable eight points above the drop zone.
Julen Lopetegui spared by West Ham United sack policy
Had David Sullivan and co changed their stance on managerial sackings mid-season, Lopetegui could well have been out of a job already following his underwhelming start to life at the London Stadium.
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The Hammers’ current unbeaten streak of three matches – including back-to-back draws most recently – is the longest of Lopetegui’s tenure thus far, showing that he’s hardly taken the team by storm.
Julen Lopetegui
The jury is still out on Julen Lopetegui for large sections of the West Ham United fanbase [Credit: Imago]
Some of the defeats already inflicted on Lopetegui’s side have instead seen them taken by storm, with Liverpool in the EFL Cup, Tottenham and Arsenal all putting at least four goals past the Irons’ defence.
With a favourable fixture against rock-bottom side Southampton coming up before Liverpool and Manchester City in the league, Lopetegui will be keen to extend his side’s unbeaten run to four games.
It’s still a far cry from the heights hit by the Irons in recent times though, and though Lopetegui seems from the sack for now, anything less than three points at St. Mary’s would pile the pressure back on.
In other West Ham news, Lopetegui could sanction a January transfer which resembles a ‘swap’ despite £66million being on the table.
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