Julen Lopetegui will find out a lot about his players as he faces intense early pressure after a difficult start at West Ham.
Say what you want about Julen Lopetegui but it seems he is ready to face the pressure head on.
West Ham’s new head coach has only overseen one Premier League win so far.
A little black cloud of negativity seems to be hovering above the Spaniard’s head since the action got underway this season.
Prior to that there was huge excitement around West Ham following an outstanding summer transfer window.
The way Lopetegui has chosen to integrate his nine new signings has sucked the life out of that buzz, though.
Results and performances have been poor, the 57-year-old has lost his big summer striker signing to injury for an extended period and a bust-up with his star player made it into the public domain.
As a result Lopetegui is already fighting off the press, many of whom have been waiting to pounce at the first sign of any Hammers attrition.
The fact passions spilled over during a tense half-time team talk at Brentford on Saturday is nothing unusual.
Bowen makes his feelings clear over Lopetegui treatment
It does show Lopetegui cares, though. It also shows he’s not scared to call out the team’s star names – regardless of whether fans agree with his singling out of Mohammed Kudus for criticism.
What’s clear to all West Ham’s players now – if it wasn’t already – is that Lopetegui is the boss.
Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen were also subbed off at Brentford – and not for the first time since Lopetegui took the reins.
West Ham’s manager has been taking almost all of the flak for the poor performances and results so far.
That is the price on the ticket as a Premier League boss.
But many feel the expensively assembled and much-hyped squad need to starting holding themselves accountable.
Step forward the team’s new skipper.
West Ham captain Bowen has made his feelings clear over the Lopetegui treatment he’s witnessed.
‘Lop’s no flop, blame us not him’ says Hammers skipper
Speaking in West Ham’s matchday programme for the Ipswich game, Bowen says performances have not been good enough.
But he insists Lopetegui and his staff have been doing everything they can to set the team up to be successful.
And Bowen says criticism should be directed at the players not the manager.
He also said it’s up to the players who have been at West Ham for a while to help the new arrivals realise what it takes to get results in the toughest league in the world.
“We’re back at home and after being disappointed with our results [at London Stadium] so far this season, this is a big opportunity to go into the international break in good spirits, ready to kick on when we come back,” Bowen said in his column for Ipswich.
“We know you turn up week-in and week-out and it’s up to us as players to put in the performances that get you off your seats.
“We’ve got some really exciting players. The club has done incredibly well to attract the players and sign the players that we have. We’ve had glimpses of it this season, and we know it’s always difficult for players coming into the Premier League because it’s the best, most demanding and hardest league in the world.
“It’s down to us who have been here to try and help players bed in as quick as possible and when it clicks, it’ll all click. We all want to flick a switch, win every single game and play well every single week, but sometimes it’s not as easy as that.
“We’ve had some decent results from difficult games, particularly away from home, and ultimately it’s down to us as players because, while the coaching staff can plan all week for different phases of the game, once we cross that white line it’s down to us on the pitch.”
Well said that man.
Now let’s see some action to go with those words from the West Ham players when Ipswich come to the London Stadium for a must-win game.
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