Julen Lopetegui should be put out of his misery
The whirlwind day of media speculation surrounding West Ham United’s managerial role surely didn’t escape the notice of Julen Lopetegui.
Despite the Spaniard’s efforts to maintain normality by leading training at Rush Green, the mechanisms to remove him were clearly in motion behind the scenes.
Lopetegui is no stranger to media dynamics, with several of his closest allies being top journalists. Reports that the Hammers’ head coach forced Tim Steidten’s removal from the training ground were accurate, despite attempts to soften the story.
It’s understood that Lopetegui had grown increasingly frustrated with whispers undermining his position.
Make no mistake, Lopetegui’s performance this season has been underwhelming. If, as expected, he loses his West Ham job, he’ll have only himself to blame. Yet, continuing to act professionally yesterday must have been difficult, knowing the club was actively working to replace him.
The original plan was to dismiss Lopetegui before the Fulham game, allowing him to manage the FA Cup fixture against Aston Villa. However, the situation has escalated so rapidly that his position now seems untenable.
Forcing a man who recently lost his father to endure one last match—particularly against the scrutiny of pre-match media—is neither fair nor humane.
Whilst I support the club’s decision to replace Lopetegui—arguably overdue—it’s time to end this prolonged exit. Allowing him to suffer a drawn-out departure would be unnecessary and cruel
