Julen Lopetegui’s closest media ally has launched a passionate defence of the under-fire West Ham manager, as a war of words at the club shows no signs of cooling down.
Earlier today, Hammers Chat Patreon revealed that Lopetegui would not take his reputation being besmirched quietly. Enter Guillem Balague—his friend and former Sky Sports presenter—who has taken to social media to defend him.
Balague’s cryptic statement hints at accusations of someone behind the scenes deliberately stoking the flames. As Lopetegui’s position becomes increasingly precarious, tensions are mounting. The Spaniard appears to have reached his breaking point as rumours swirl that his removal from the manager’s seat is imminent.
Lopetegui has been under immense pressure in recent days, exacerbated by the banning of Tim Steidten from the training ground over perceived conflicts of interest. Steidten, present when David Sullivan interviewed Paulo Fonseca last Friday, reportedly raised suspicions within Lopetegui’s camp—a detail the current manager was quick to learn.
This comes amid whispers of internal sabotage, with allegations of a figure within the club undermining the manager’s authority among players. Disputes with Mohammed Kudus, Jean-Clair Todibo, Niclas Füllkrug, and Alphonse Areola have only deepened the fractures in the dressing room, leaving “Team Lopetegui” convinced that all is not well at West Ham.
Lopetegui’s Last Stand: Balague Fires Back in Hammers Feud
As the fallout escalates, Balague has added fuel to the fire with his take on the situation. Here’s what he had to say about Lopetegui:
“There is always another side to every story.
Sullivan and Lopetegui spoke this morning. Everyone is aware the team is not fulfilling expectations, and nobody knows what might happen in the next few hours or days.
Lopetegui is working hard preparing the Villa game and will work hard till the last day, whenever that is. But he has not been sacked at this point.
The plan continues to be a transformation of the style of the team towards a more modern, versatile one. There are green shoots that suggest things could improve if you want to see the bottle half full.
But, surprisingly, inside the camp, petrol has been thrown onto the fire, feeding doubts of fans instead of everyone being on the same boat and supporting the leadership.
I insist on the idea that Lopetegui, a top European manager, has been treated very harshly. But that is football today. Everyone knows more, and nobody wants to be wrong.
Let’s imagine a couple of wins for West Ham. It could take them to the top ten. #justsaying”
The drama continues to unfold, and all eyes will be on West Ham as the situation develops. Expect more mud to be slung before this saga concludes.
