Chris Sutton has pointed the finger at West Ham United’s technical director, Tim Steidten, for the club’s underwhelming start under Julen Lopetegui.
The Hammers suffered their third consecutive home league defeat of the season, losing 3-0 to Chelsea at the London Stadium on Saturday, 21 September—a first in the club’s history.
Fans have been quick to criticise Lopetegui, who took charge after David Moyes’ departure.
However, BBC Sport pundit Sutton believes the real blame lies with Steidten, who was instrumental in the decision to replace Moyes with another manager he describes as a “pragmatist,” rather than someone with a more adventurous approach.
Speaking on It’s All Kicking Off on Monday, 23 September, Sutton said:
“This isn’t on Lopetegui, this is on the decision-makers. I think the sporting director [Steidten], I think David Moyes banned him from the changing room and the training ground at the end of last season because he was actively going out and speaking to managers while David Moyes was still in the job.
“Then you think, well this guy is paid a lot of money to make the right appointment and I think we all expected a manager who would come in and play a more expansive brand of football. He’s replaced like for like in terms of what both managers were and are. They’re both pragmatists.”
Sutton’s comments reflect a wider frustration among the West Ham faithful, who were hoping for a fresh, dynamic approach after Moyes’ departure.
When Lopetegui, a manager with a solid CV but known for a similarly cautious style of football, was announced as his replacement, it was met with scepticism. Many fans and pundits questioned whether Lopetegui’s philosophy was truly different from Moyes’.
While the former Real Madrid and Wolves boss has only been in charge for a handful of games, those early concerns seem justified.
Thus far, Lopetegui has failed to instill the kind of expansive football West Ham supporters crave. But Sutton argues that Lopetegui cannot be held responsible for playing the style he was known for before taking the job.
“The Hammers knew what sort of manager they were hiring,” Sutton said, suggesting that those in charge at the club should not be surprised by the results on the pitch. Instead of blaming Lopetegui, Sutton believes fans and the media should question Steidten and the board for their decision-making process.
With pressure mounting on Lopetegui after such a poor start, West Ham will need to find answers quickly, or the frustration within the club could escalate further.