Spanish football expert and Sky Sports pundit Guillem Balague has jumped to the defence of his compatriot Julen Lopetegui. The former Wolves boss has agreed to join West Ham as head coach when David Moyes departs at the end of the season.
However, Lopetegui has faced criticism over his coaching style and has even been the subject of a petition from West Ham fans who do not want him appointed. This follows a similar situation at AC Milan, where fans held a vote to force the club board to abort their attempts to recruit him.
The negative press has prompted Balague to come out fighting in defence of Lopetegui, whom he clearly considers to be an outstanding coach. Speaking on his Twitter (X) account, the journalist said:
“Two things about Lopetegui. He DID NOT leave Wolves because he thought the squad was poor. It was because the goalpost was moved THREE times. If at work your boss lies to you three times, do you stay? A man of principle like him has to go.
Secondly, he WAS NOT born as a manager when he arrived in England, where he had EXTRAORDINARY success with Wolves (from bottom to 13th, 7 points from relegation).
He was actually brilliant at Sevilla, Spain, and Porto, and was even chosen as a Real Madrid manager, no less. He is a very top, exciting manager.
Not sure why Wolves fans are upset with him and not with the board.”
Lopetegui likes to play with a 4-3-3 configuration that moves to a 4-2-3-1 under certain conditions. Time will tell if he has the players (now or later) to try is favourite approach.
He deserves the benefit of the doubt, but if he gets a string of bad results early in the season, the fans are going to crucify him. Interesting times coming up if he really becomes the new Manager.
Such a brilliant manager that he was snapped up instantly after leaving Wolves.
His comments to the press were so toxic that wolves were forced to let him go as it was affecting team and supporter morale.
A good manager yes great is a matter of opinion.
If you search for julen lopetegui interview on you tube you see a Guillem Balague interview with Lopetegui on the pitch at Wolves when he took over as manager. Lopetegui comes across as a nice bloke actually and Balague is clearly a fan boy
Thanks for the tip, I’ll look now mate
Again our problem is the owners the manager is a fall guy for Sullivan and Brady’s incompetence
**** appointment moyes will be back by Christmas
I think you have something, where were we before moyes..He’ll -Lopez, spend and spend and we’ll be nowhere.
Interesting article on sky sports football website explaining why Lopetegui could be a good fit for West Ham. I must admit it changed my perceptions a little bit.
Didn’t Sullivan and Con appoint Avram Grant and Pelligrini. Mr big time couldn’t pick a winner if he tried…..
I don’t get this love fest with David Moyes?Yes he brought us European football for three seasons and a trophy but we are at the hear and now and his football has been c**p this year.
Picks the same old players whether they are in form or not.The defence is creaking which shows since we have conceded seventy goals this season.Never makes substitutions until it’s too late.
Bought strikers and then didn’t play them because he suddenly realised they didn’t fit into our system.
Yes i appreciate what he has done for us and i will be clapping him on Saturday against Luton but every dog has his day.
Lupetegui might not be the right fit but i’m willing to give him a chance and get behind him because i don’t think i could have faced another season of “Moyesball”
I see no reason at all to grateful to David Moyes. He is a serial excuse maker. He has burnt a small group of his favourites and held the best youth we have had in generation back years. Squandered resources and opportunities. It is him should be thanking West Ham.
As others have noted the issue at West Ham is the owners and specifically the lead owner. So he senses the masses coming towards him with discontent and sacks the manager to avoid the true heat falling on him. Tony Cottee on this issue is right, nothing changes for real at West Ham until the ownership changes. But that is just a different role of the dice, given the basket cases you can get as owners. So you end up having to be quite philosophical about the whole thing and the circus known as the Premier league
Our supporters were dancing with joy when Pellegrini was appointed (An actual Premier League winning manager coming to us) You can argue that only Manchester Citeh, Liverpool and possibly Arsenal have had success with their managerial choices in recent years. It’s not that easy, Red Manc supporters still dreaming of Ferguson, currently on their fifth/sixth(Rangnick?) full time manager since he packed up. Let’s not forget, this Amaral everybody is desperate for crawled back to Portugal begging forgiveness when he was caught talking to us. Fonseca may have been sounded out and said no thanks for his own personal reasons, who really knows and who can judge him for his decision