West Ham will be so glad Julen Lopetegui is gone after Don Hutchison’s training ground revelation. There have been a string of revelations about how bad things were at West Ham under Julen Lopetegui and now there’s another.
Julen Lopetegui was gone and quickly forgotten during West Ham’s first half display at Aston Villa.
If Graham Potter can have that impact after one training session, supporters are enthused as to what the future might hold.
In truth, most Hammers fans did not want Lopetegui at the club in the first place. But West Ham supporters had been actively calling for the Spaniard’s head since the defeat at Leicester.
The whole saga dragged on for another month after that, though, with one story after another leaking from behind the scenes. Many have since been confirmed by the likes of The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas.
The reporter had threatened to blow the lid on what had gone on under Lopetegui and has since made good on that pledge. New incidents have come to light since the 58-year-old was sacked.
West Ham will be glad Lopetegui is gone after new revelation. Everyone knew about the bust-ups with Mohammed Kudus and Jean-Clair Todibo.
One fallout had not been widely known and was notable given who it involved.
Lopetegui even managed to clash with Alphonse Areola – described as ‘the calmest and most liked player at the club’.
The first half display at Villa was arguably one of – if not the – best from West Ham in over a year.
As the shortest-serving permanent manager in Hammers history, Lopetegui won’t live long in the memory. But West Ham will be so glad Lopetegui is gone after Don Hutchison’s training ground revelation.
Former Hammers midfield Hutchison is now a pundit for the Premier League, ESPN and others. He still has connections at West Ham and follows the club’s progress closely.
Many of the club’s supporters noted a complete change in the atmosphere at the training ground in the wake of Lopetegui’s sacking. That’s after West Ham’s media team released video footage from Potter’s first day at the club.
West Ham legend Tony Cottee had called for Potter to be appointed after David Moyes’ departure.
When Cottee pointed that out on social media, his former Irons teammate Hutchison responded with a damning insight from his sources at the club.
Rush Green sources called Lopetegui ‘Pellegrini mark two’ “Why was Graham Potter not considered last May when he was clearly available and a better candidate!” Cottee said on social media.
“Why? Someone please tell me… I’m now happy the right appointment has been made.”
To which Hutchison responded with a damning revelation about what life was like under Lopetegui at Rush Green.
Adding that West Ham have “wasted millions” hiring and firing the ex Spain boss.
“Very very strange appointment mate,” Hutchison said to Cottee. “Boys down the training ground said “Pellegrini mark two”. Training ground has been dead lately.
“The club has just wasted millions. When they should have got Potter in the summer.”
Very very strange appointment mate/boys down the training ground said “Pellegrini m11” training ground has been dead lately. The club has just wasted millions. When they should have got G Potter in the summer ⚒️⚒️⚒️⚒️ https://t.co/3bEkXYNPxc
— Don Hutchison (@donhutch4) January 9, 2025
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Another big factor of Lopetegui’s failure to connect with his players was a lack of days off.
The ex Real Madrid manager only recently relented on that taskmaster approach after intervention from above when concerns were raised by senior players.
It proved too little too late.
Lopetegui left West Ham with a worse win ratio than the hapless Avram Grant across all competitions.
While Grant was clearly a terrible appointment, he was in charge of West Ham when the club was trying to get back on its feet financially and had a threadbare squad.
Lopetegui has no such excuse after the Hammers splurged £155m on nine signings in the summer.
Now it is up to Potter to start getting some return on that investment. The early signs – both on the Pitch and at the training ground – are hugely encouraging.
