Julen Lopetegui has outlined exactly what he’d bring to West Ham and dropped a big hint about the importance of any relationship with Tim Steidten.
They say don’t believe everything you read in the press.
And fans of West Ham have plenty of reason to follow that particular piece of advice – in the last week alone.
But if we are to believe what we read – and the suggestions to Hammers News from a source close to the owners – then West Ham have settled on Julen Lopetegui as the man to replace David Moyes.
To use the word “settled” makes it sound very much like Lopetegui would not be the first choice.
As far as the vast majority of West Ham fans are concerned that would be the case.
Young Sporting boss Ruben Amorim had captured the imagination of supporters to such a degree there was a rare unity across the Hammers fanbase.
Lopetegui is seen by many as a “Spanish Moyes” who is not what fans envisaged when craving a modern, attack-minded manager to change the risk averse style they’ve become so tired of under their current boss.
That is best highlighted by the results of a poll run by West Ham board insider Sean Whetstone this week.
He asked fans: ‘If there were only two choices, Lopetegui or Moyes, who would you prefer to manage West Ham next season?’
From nearly 5,000 votes, more than 56% of fans voted in favour of keeping Moyes.
Hardly the resounding vote of confidence the owners would want from fans ahead of season ticket renewal deadline.
Reports are now gathering pace that Lopetegui is the man David Sullivan and Tim Steidten have agreed upon.
Hammers settle on Lopetegui?
When Hammers News put those claims – and the fact many fans were not happy at the prospect – to a source very close to the owners, we were told it is not their position to comment on the opinions of fans.
Whether they take fan sentiment into consideration, though, remains to be seen.
AC Milan did just that, withdrawing their contract offer to Lopetegui today after a fan revolt.
That left Lopetegui in ‘shock and disbelief’. And ready for talks with Man United if reports are to be believed.
Then came claims he is also being considered by Bayern Munich.
So are West Ham fans writing him off too soon?
Here is a manager supposedly attracting the interest – albeit not as anything close to first choice – Milan, Bayern and Man United. But many Hammers fans feel it would be a wrong move.
Well now we hear from the man himself.
Lopetegui has outlined exactly what he’d bring to West Ham and dropped a big Steidten hint to boot.
Speaking in a very – VERY – lengthy interview with ESPN today, the Spaniard has opened up on his mindset about his next move.
He has talked about how he will select his next job. And a key factor in his decision will – Lopetegui says – be down to his relationship with the technical director and whether that man has the full backing of the owners.
Lopetegui insists he has watched and analysed a lot of football, from all manner of clubs across Europe.
Lopetegui outlines what he’d bring and drops big Steidten hint
He also says that he has been closely focusing on the teams and matches of clubs who have made him aware of their interest.
Lopetegui states he has used his time out of the game since last August to ‘evolve, adapt, reassess, refresh, reconfigure’. It sounds a lot like a certain interview the man he might replace gave on his return to West Ham four-and-a-half years ago.
“I prefer to wait for something that fits,” Lopetegui told ESPN’s Sid Lowe.
“It’s true that our experiences in England have been good, and that our idea, our aim, was to stay in the Premier League and manage a team there, but let’s see where football takes us…
“It depends on the club. A sporting director might call you because he already knows you or because he wants to know you. Some are asking about availability, others about methodology.
“For me, a key question is the idea the sporting director has because he’s the one laying down the guidelines along which a club is run; if that fits with your view, if he has the owners and directors on his side, convinced by that approach, then perfect.
“If you know each other already, if they know your work, that happens naturally. If they don’t know you, maybe you go and do a presentation where you outline your ideas, your strategies, and your methods. Sometimes a sporting director can win you over when you weren’t sure, or the other way round.
“Sometimes the moment is right, sometimes it’s not.”
I guess we’ll find out if the moment is right for Lopetegui, West Ham – and the club’s fans – soon enough.
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