West Ham manager under pressure Julen Lopetegui says ‘we will change the situation’ at the struggling club. The Spaniard’s future has been debated by senior figures at the club following Tuesday’s 3-1 defeat to Leicester City.
The Hammers are 14th in the Premier League table and have won only one of their last five games as they prepare for Monday’s home game with Wolves, who are second last in the table. Lopetegui left the Wolves job shortly before the start of the 2023-24 season after just nine months at the helm.
And when asked if he would leave West Ham after replacing David Moyes in May, the 58-year-old Spaniard said. ‘I always have a great commitment to my job and I am very happy to stay at West Ham. We will change the situation.’
When Lopetegui was told he had a game to save his job, he replied: ‘I’m not thinking about that. I think we have a very important challenge on Monday against a good team. ‘We have to focus on having a good response and develop our work until Monday, to be ready to face them and to give our fans a good day.
‘I understand all the things that revolve around football and I understand that my main goal and responsibility is to be ready for a tough and difficult game. ‘But equally, it’s a great opportunity and challenge for us at home, to be ready to get the three points. That is the most important thing.’
West Ham fans have been frustrated by the team’s style of play under Lopetegui, who took over in May, and the Hammers have won four and lost seven of their 14 league games so far this season. They also lost both games after a 2-0 win at Newcastle and now face a Wolves side beaten 4-0 at Everton on Wednesday.
‘I have nothing to say against my players,’ said former Real Madrid and Spain coach Lopetegui. ‘I accept responsibility and pressure. That’s why I am a coach. ‘For sure, we are not happy and, for sure, the fans are always right. That’s why I think, until now, they give us much more than we give them. ‘We have to change that, and we are looking for that.’
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