Early pressure is mounting on Julen Lopetegui at West Ham United, but three key players have stepped up to support the beleaguered manager amid growing criticism from fans and the media.
The Hammers’ performances since Lopetegui took the helm have been disappointing, with little sign of the excitement or freshness many hoped for following a summer spending spree of £155 million on nine new signings.
Despite being hailed as winners of the transfer window, the on-field results have not reflected this investment.
The situation intensified following a disheartening 3-0 defeat to Chelsea, during which the home crowd booed the team off the pitch, jeered the manager’s substitutions, and thousands departed with 20 minutes still to play.
The owners are reportedly dissatisfied with Lopetegui’s early tenure, and the club’s start to the season has been historically grim; West Ham have lost their opening three league games for the first time in their 129-year history.
Statistically, the team’s struggles are stark. West Ham have created the second-fewest big chances in the Premier League and have conceded an alarming 83 shots—more than any other side in the division.
This defensive frailty mirrors last season’s woes, where they conceded a club-record 74 goals under former manager David Moyes.
A journalist close to the Hammers’ board has claimed that both Lopetegui and sporting director Tim Steidten are under significant pressure just five games into the season.
In light of this tumultuous start, midfielder Lucas Paquetá expressed his concerns about the situation on social media. However, three of his teammates have publicly rallied behind Lopetegui, calling for unity during this transitional period.
Emerson Palmieri has been vocal in his belief that West Ham can improve under their new manager. He reassured fans that the team is committed to working harder to turn things around.
“We can do better, and we will for sure,” Emerson stated on social media.
“We will work harder to get back to winning again. Together we are stronger!”
Defender Max Kilman, who has a history with Lopetegui from their time at Wolves, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the need for patience as the team adapts to the changes.
“We need to make sure we are much better than this,” Kilman told beIN Sports.
“We all have to have a big look at ourselves and make sure we can improve on this and make sure we come back better next week and in the games coming up.
“Of course we want to make the London Stadium a really hard place to come to. At the moment it’s really tough.
“But you know we’re going through a big transitional period at the club but as time goes on I’m sure we’re going to pick ourselves up and make sure we get going and things will improve.
“We need to show more hunger, we need to show more focus and be more as a team now. It’s still really early on (under the manager) but we need to pick up results quickly and make sure we improve our performances really soon. That’s the plan and I’m sure as time goes on we’ll get there.”
New signing Carlos Soler, who made his debut against Chelsea, also backed Lopetegui, expressing confidence in the process.
“I’m confident we’ll correct our mistakes to become a much better team, for sure,” Soler posted on Instagram.
“Heads up, and let’s go for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup match! Thanks for your constant support. COYI!”
As the team gears up for the upcoming Carabao Cup clash, it’s clear that words must translate into action on the pitch. West Ham fans are desperate for signs of improvement before the international break in October.
The coming weeks will be crucial as Lopetegui aims to galvanize his squad and turn their fortunes around, restoring faith among supporters who are increasingly anxious for results.