No managers in the Premier League are under more pressure than Erik ten Hag at Manchester United and West Ham’s Julen Lopetegui.
It has been a torrid start to life at West Ham for Julen Lopetegui.
Erik ten Hag has been given a big second chance by new Man United co-owners INEOS.
But he too is struggling to convince anyone he is the right man for the job at Old Trafford.
Assessment of Ten Hag is fairer given the length of time he has now been at Manchester United.
Lopetegui deserves more time to make his case at West Ham.
Especially after a major squad overhaul of 21 players – which included nine new arrivals – in the summer.
Things must improve quickly for Lopetegui at the London Stadium, though.
Just one Premier League win from his first six games has piled the pressure on ahead of the game against Ipswich before the international break.
Dark clouds are gathering over Man United again after a dismal 3-0 home defeat to Spurs on Sunday night.
Lopetegui and Ten Hag both under early pressure
With both Lopetegui and Ten Hag under pressure and scrutiny, it is setting up an intriguing clash between the Hammers and Red Devils after the international break.
Games between West Ham and Man United are always special.
Manchester United come to east London for what is already looking like a huge game on October 27th.
The match is Premier League game week nine – that’s a quarter of the way through the season.
It’s when most journalists and observers feel the league table really starts to take shape.
So the outcome of that clash could be crucial.
Lopetegui has not had much luck during his fledgling West Ham career thus far.
The Spaniard lost his new striker signing to injury, was handed a tough opening sequence of fixtures and even injured himself on the touchline at Liverpool.
West Ham get major double Man United boost
Lopetegui’s luck might be changing, though, as West Ham get a major double Man United boost.
When two teams from the same city play at home in Europe, UEFA has procedures in place to make sure they don’t play on the same night.
The first piece of good news for West Ham comes from the Man United fixture list.
Galatasaray and fierce Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce are both playing in the Europa League in the midweek before Man United’s game at West Ham.
European fixture calendars are different this season with the expansion of the Champions League and Europa League to the Swiss model.
Not only are Manchester United away at former manager Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce before facing the Hammers.
But the Red Devils have to go there on the Thursday night (October 24th) because Galatasaray have been given the Wednesday slot.
That, and being at home, should give West Ham an edge.
Lopetegui’s luck changing at West Ham?
There was more good news for Lopetegui ahead of the Man United game too.
During the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham, key player and captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off for a foul on James Maddison.
That means Fernandes will be banned for games against Aston Villa, Brentford and West Ham.
There was some debate and controversy over the sending off.
But the feeling is the red card will not be rescinded retrospectively.
West Ham will have had a full week of rest ahead of the Man United game.
The Red Devils will arrive back from an intense game in Turkey on Friday October 25th before the long trip to east London less than 48 hours later.
And they’ll be doing it without their captain and chief playmaker with the only manager under more pressure than the one in West Ham’s dugout.
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