Julen Lopetegui has revealed he was surprised with West Ham United’s decision to part ways with him.
Friday’s edition of AS has published an interview with the 58-year-old where the majority of the focus was on the Hammers.
West Ham appointed the Spaniard as their manager after David Moyes stepped down at the end of last season.
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Niclas Fullkrug Tears Down Teammates After Dreadful Draw to Bottom Side Southampton The latest match between Niclas Fullkrug’s team and Southampton ended in a disappointing draw, with Fullkrug expressing his frustration and anger towards his teammates’ performance. The striker was scathing in his assessment, citing a lack of motivation, ability, and togetherness as the main reasons for their subpar display. Fullkrug’s Post-Match Rant Fullkrug’s post-match comments were blunt and to the point, as he expressed his anger and frustration towards his teammates. “It’s a mindset problem. I’m VERY angry. Not disappointed, just angry,” he said. “After the goal, it was difficult to bring the boys to push up. We didn’t have the ability, or the motivation. Sorry, we were SHIT.” Lack of Motivation and Ability Fullkrug’s criticism of his teammates’ lack of motivation and ability is telling. According to him, half of the team wanted to score again, while the other half just wanted to defend. This lack of cohesion and unity is a major concern for the team, and Fullkrug believes that they need to find a way to work together if they want to achieve their goals. Coach’s Expectations Fullkrug also emphasized the importance of following the coach’s game plan. “The coach was clear what he wants, so we have to do it all,” he said. “It’s just my feelings today.” This suggests that the team is not executing the coach’s instructions effectively, which is leading to frustration and disappointment. Conclusion Fullkrug’s outburst highlights the team’s struggles and the need for improvement. With a clearer understanding of the team’s mindset and approach, they can work towards building a more cohesive unit that can compete effectively. The question remains whether the team can respond positively to Fullkrug’s criticism and find a way to work together more effectively. Key Takeaways – *Mindset Problem*: Fullkrug believes that the team’s mindset is a major issue, with a lack of motivation and ability contributing to their poor performance. – *Lack of Togetherness*: The team is struggling to work together, with different players having different objectives. Fullkrug believes that they need to find a way to build a more cohesive unit. – *Coach’s Expectations*: The coach has a clear game plan, but the team is not executing it effectively. Fullkrug emphasizes the importance of following the coach’s instructions. – *Frustration and Anger*: Fullkrug’s outburst highlights his frustration and anger towards his teammates’ performance. He believes that they need to improve their mindset and approach if they want to achieve their goals. Word count: 1000
April 20, 2025
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The Premier League club reportedly invested around €144m on new players last summer. They weren’t able to obtain the desired results under Lopetegui, winning six of their 20 league games.
Back in January, West Ham parted ways with the Spaniard and appointed Graham Potter as his successor. Two months after his departure, AS asked Lopetegui to assess his exit from the club
At the time, we felt disappointed. The team was where it should have been, understanding the circumstances,” he said.
“The second half of the season was going to be better. The team was 13th and had a chance of finishing ninth or 10th, which I think is where we should be. That was the idea of the first year.”
When asked if he was ‘surprised’ with the sacking, Lopetegui explained: “Yes, because we had the commitment of the players. West Ham is a club with different shareholders, and we had a very good relationship with all of them. No one told us we were in danger.”
Tim Steidten was West Ham’s technical director when the former Sevilla manager was in London. Claims in the UK had then stated Lopetegui had a fallout with the German.
On Steidten, he said: “I’ve always had a good relationship with all the sporting directors I’ve been in. I’ve been a club man. That’s why I prefer to ignore that person [Steidten], to be honest.”
AS points out Niclas Füllkrug’s injury, Michail Antonio’s accident, a few red cards to other players. They then state ‘everything that could, went wrong’ at West Ham for Lopetegui.
Responding to this, he added: “And Bowen missing a few games, who was essential. A lot happened to us. We had two consecutive red cards for Kudus and Edson Álvarez, three and five games in a row. Füllkrug’s injury happened as soon as we arrived and lasted three or four months. And yet, after 18 games, we had 23 points.”
West Ham are currently 16th in the table with 33 points from 28 matches. The newspaper states clubs go through a ‘downward’ trend after Lopetegui’s exit. He then explains the reason for disappointment over West Ham exit.
“It’s happened, and you’re left wondering what would have happened if he had stayed there. The truth is, we’ve always had the players’ conviction. That’s why we were angry and sad about West Ham,” he said.
