West Ham United’s manager Julen Lopetegui finds himself under growing scrutiny as the team struggles to rise in the Premier League standings. The Hammers currently sit in 14th place, only five points clear of the relegation zone despite a busy summer transfer window that brought several new players to the squad. However, the club appears to be taking a measured approach, as The Athletic’s David Ornstein reports that West Ham officials hope to see improvement rather than rush into a managerial change.
On social media platform Threads, Ornstein shared insights from a source familiar with the situation, suggesting that the club remains supportive of Lopetegui and is committed to giving him more time to turn things around. “A source very well-placed has said to me today, they’re disappointed by results, but they like to honour contracts,” Ornstein revealed. “They hope and expect things to change.”
Despite the club’s faith in Lopetegui, the manager faces a crucial international break, where he will have an extended period to work with his players and aim to shift the team’s momentum. Ornstein notes that fan pressure is growing, and questions have been raised about the influence of Tim Steidten, the club’s sporting director, who played a significant role in both recruiting Lopetegui and overseeing the summer signings.
“There will be scrutiny on him, because the fans are turning,” Ornstein continued. “There will be scrutiny on Tim Steidten, the sporting director, who bought Lopetegui in and so many of the players in the summer window. He lives on for now, but it is delicate there.”
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