Danny Ings might have bought Julen Lopetegui some breathing room with his performance the previous week, but West Ham’s 3-0 defeat to Chelsea quickly reignited criticism. Just five games into the Premier League season, Lopetegui is already under significant pressure, facing scrutiny from fans, the media, and the club’s hierarchy.
The decision to replace David Moyes with Lopetegui was contentious from the start, and the media has been quick to jump on any early setbacks. West Ham supporters are aware of the difficult task ahead for Lopetegui: he must revamp the team’s tactics while pushing for European qualification. Compounding these challenges is the integration of 21 new signings following an extensive summer overhaul.
With a £155 million investment in new players, the expectations are high, and the patience of fans is wearing thin. After the Chelsea defeat, many supporters expressed their frustration, booing the team and Lopetegui’s substitutions. Perhaps even more concerning for the club’s owners was the sight of fans leaving the stadium early, with around 20 minutes still left in the match.
Lopetegui’s tactical approach drew particular criticism, as this latest loss set an unwanted milestone—it’s the first time in the club’s 129-year history that West Ham has lost their first three home league games of the season. While their opponents—Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Chelsea—were formidable, pundits Dean Ashton and Danny Murphy have squarely blamed Lopetegui for the team’s struggles.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Ashton condemned West Ham’s defensive chaos, pointing out issues with players like Alvarez, Mavropanos, and Kilman, particularly regarding their positioning and speed. On BBC’s Match of the Day, Murphy criticized Lopetegui’s decision to have Alvarez man-mark Chelsea’s rapid forward Nicolas Jackson, a tactic that led to the first two goals.
Murphy noted that while Alvarez has many strengths, pace isn’t one of them, which made the strategy ineffective and exposed West Ham defensively. As West Ham now prepare for a tough Carabao Cup clash against Liverpool at Anfield, Lopetegui’s problems show no signs of easing anytime soon.
