West Ham have responded to a journalist’s claim that technical director Tim Steidten was against the appointment of Julen Lopetegui.
Life at West Ham has not started too well for Julen Lopetegui.
The Hammers have a solitary win, a draw and three defeats in the Premier League under Lopetegui so far.
Although West Ham did beat Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup to set up a daunting third round clash at Liverpool.
Saturday’s dismal 3-0 drubbing by Chelsea meant West Ham have lost their first three home league games of a season for the first time in their 129-year history.
Lopetegui’s team selections and tactics have frustrated and bemused supporters and invited criticism from pundits and journalists.
The 57-year-old has been savaged by the media for the team’s performances.
Fans jeered Lopetegui’s substitutions against Chelsea, booed the team off and then thousands left the London Stadium 20 minutes before the final whistle.
The top contact close to the club’s owners exclusively told Hammers News the board are far from impressed with what they’ve seen so far.
West Ham respond to claim Steidten was against Lopetegui hire
They also raised concerns about Lopetegui’s treatment of star summer capture Jean-Clair Todibo, who is yet to start a Premier League game.
Hammers News was exclusively told Lopetegui doesn’t believe Todibo is ‘tough enough’ for the Premier League at the moment.
That has since been inaccurately repeated elsewhere as Lopetegui not believing Todibo is “fit enough”.
There is no doubt Lopetegui is under early pressure from the press, owners and fans.
Yesterday journalist Graeme Bailey told Hammers News that Steidten wanted other managers ahead of Lopetegui.
Bailey revealed Steidten was not the brainchild behind bringing in the former Spain boss.
Now West Ham have responded to the claim that Steidten was against the Lopetegui hire.
‘All West Ham stakeholders were unanimous’
Speaking via Hammers insider Sean Whetstone, a senior club source says ‘all stakeholders’ agreed to appoint Lopetegui.
Although Steidten is clearly not a West Ham stakeholder, the suggestion is he too agreed to replace David Moyes with the Spaniard.
“Reports that Tim Steidten warned David Sullivan against the appointment of Julen Lopetegui at West Ham have been denied by a senior club source,” Whetstone said.
“Steidten was at all the interviews for a perspective head coach and the decision to appoint Julen Lopetegui was unanimous with all West Ham stakeholders.”
Bailey made it clear in his claim that Steidten was present and was the one to ultimately rubber stamp the appointment.
But his sources claim the move to appoint Lopetegui was very much driven by Sullivan, who was won over by the former Wolves boss at interview.
The issue West Ham have now is results.
It’s clear Lopetegui is not going to be able to implement an exciting, fresh style of play overnight.
Although other managers have managed it at rival clubs, it seems the turnover of 21 players in the summer has made any quick fix almost impossible.
No quick fix for style issue so results are a must at West Ham
So Lopetegui needs to start getting results to buy himself the time to gradually change the way West Ham approach matches.
His attempts to do that from the get go have been exposed with West Ham looking far too open at the back.
Possession and passing statistics have improved.
But the Hammers have allowed more shots than any other team in the top flight (83). And that is some 20 more than the next worst.
Lopetegui’s side have also created the second fewest ‘big chances’ with just seven across five Premier League matches so far.
The fixture list has not been kind with Liverpool the latest of a tough opening sequence.
But Brentford and Ipswich give the new boss the perfect opportunity to get some wins and momentum.
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