A top West Ham source has dismissed Florian Plettenberg’s claim that Julen Lopetegui has three games left to save his job and that the club is currently “evaluating potential candidates.”
The Sky Sports Germany insider, who often has reliable insights into Hammers transfer targets and contracts, reported that the next three games leading up to the international break are crucial for Lopetegui’s future, suggesting the club may already be considering replacements.
When Claret & Hugh sought clarification on this report from a high-ranking source within West Ham earlier today, they were told: “It’s not come from us. We believe results will improve. The manager is hugely experienced.”
This response should come as no surprise. Whilst the club has hinted at deadlines for other managers struggling in the past, this kind of messaging would certainly be counterproductive ahead of a game as important as West Ham vs Manchester United.
I’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve heard that Slaven Bilic, Manuel Pellegrini, or David Moyes had “three games left,” making Plettenberg’s claims feel very familiar.
However, there remains hope and belief within the club that Lopetegui will turn things around, and there’s certainly no appetite among board members to undermine the gaffer before such an important match.
