West Ham’s win over Manchester United cost Erik ten Hag his job but where does it leave Julen Lopetegui in the eyes of David Sullivan.
It was dubbed ‘El Sackico’ when West Ham welcomed Man United to the London Stadium.
And so it proved for the loser Erik ten Hag.
Julen Lopetegui and the Dutchman were both under immense pressure going into the West Ham vs Manchester United clash.
The Hammers ran out 2-1 winners thanks to Jarrod Bowen’s 92nd minute penalty.
There has been inevitable controversy around West Ham’s victory.
VAR intervened over an incident involving Danny Ings and Red Devils defender Matthijs de Ligt.
Lopetegui survives El Sackico as Ten Hag is axed
The game was pulled back and the referee awarded the Hammers a penalty after watching the pitchside monitor.
The win lifted West Ham above Man United into 13th in the Premier League table at what is effectively the quarter-way stage of the season.
Whoever lost the game was always going to be under even more pressure.
For Ten Hag it proved fatal as the Hammers were the Grim Reaper yet again for a Premier League manager.
Manchester United sacked Ten Hag less than 24 hours later and now want former West Ham target Ruben Amorim.
But what does the win do for Lopetegui’s position at the London Stadium?
What Sullivan really thought about West Ham win
A top board source has shared what David Sullivan really thought about the West Ham win over Man United.
And Lopetegui is not out of the woods yet it seems.
There is no debating that West Ham’s victory was somewhat fortuitous.
The Hammers could have found themselves 3-0 down at half-time with the game done and dusted.
That would likely have seen another mass exodus of fans and the narrative would be very different this week.
Somehow Lopetegui’s side went in at 0-0 and his substitutions changed the game in West Ham’s favour.
Although many have pointed out Lopetegui should have started Crysencio Summerville and Tomas Soucek so does not deserve too much credit for the subs.
Then of course there was the very generous penalty call. West Ham fans will rightly argue they were long overdue a decision in their favour against Man United after some horrendous ones in the Red Devils’ favour in recent years.
Lopetegui still has work to do, though, it seems.
Hammers ‘had a lot of luck’
Sean Whetstone counts Sullivan as a close contact.
And he has revealed his top source in the boardroom feels West Ham were ‘lucky’ to win the game.
But he hopes the improved second half display can be a turning in West Ham’s season.
“We had a lot of luck,” the senior contact told Whetstone.
“But we were much better in second half.
“Nice to win two home games in a row. Hopefully we can go on a long undefeated run.”
Senior club source on yesterday's win
"We had a lot of luck, but we were much better in second half. Nice to win two home games in a row. Hopefully we can go on a long undefeated run" pic.twitter.com/ZjagZyc4ty
— West Ham Football (@westhamfootball) October 28, 2024
Sometimes it takes a bit of luck to kick start a season or a tenure.
The great Sir Alex Ferguson was on the verge of the sack with Man United 13th in the table before Mark Robins scored a goal which saved his job and started a dynasty.
West Ham go to Forest and then face Everton before the November international break.
If they can get a run of wins it would put them back in the mix for the European places.
And that would really give Lopetegui lift off.
Be the first to comment