Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has warned West Ham United that they must sack new manager Julen Lopetegui by Christmas if the team is not showing clear signs of progress. Jordan, now a prominent media pundit, believes the Hammers have made a risky appointment in Lopetegui and that the Spaniard will need to quickly prove his worth at the London Stadium.
“I think Lopetegui is a gamble for West Ham,” Jordan said on his talkSPORT radio show. “He’s got a decent enough CV but he’s also got some failures on there as well. He didn’t last long at Real Madrid, he got sacked at Sevilla, and he left Wolves in a bit of a huff.”
Jordan pointed out that Lopetegui will be under immediate pressure to improve results and performances after West Ham’s disappointing end to last season under David Moyes. The Hammers won just one of their final nine Premier League matches and were thrashed 5-0 by Chelsea.
“West Ham fans are not going to be patient,” Jordan continued. “They want to see progress and they want to see it quickly. If Lopetegui hasn’t got them in the top half of the table and showing signs of being a team that can compete in the top half of the Premier League by Christmas, then I think West Ham will have to make a change.”
The outspoken pundit believes Lopetegui’s past failures, particularly at Real Madrid where he was sacked after just 14 games, are a major red flag. He also questioned whether the 57-year-old has the personality to handle the pressure of managing in the Premier League.
“Lopetegui didn’t handle the pressure at Real Madrid. He’s a bit of an enigma in terms of his personality. He seems quite introverted and I’m not sure he’s got the character to deal with the intensity of the Premier League.”
Jordan’s comments come after Lopetegui was officially unveiled as West Ham’s new manager on Thursday, signing a two-year deal with an option for a third year. The Spaniard, who has previously coached the Spanish national team, Porto, Sevilla and most recently Wolves, expressed his excitement at the challenge ahead.
“I am thrilled to join West Ham United and be part of the future of this esteemed club,” Lopetegui said in a statement. “Our aim is to leave a distinctive mark on the team. I am confident that we possess a solid foundation, and as a coach, my ambition is to continually improve and strive for greater achievements.”
However, Jordan believes Lopetegui will need to hit the ground running to win over the West Ham faithful, who were not universally happy with his appointment. Some fans questioned whether he was the right man to take the club forward after Moyes’ successful tenure.
“The West Ham fans are not convinced by Lopetegui,” Jordan said. “They wanted someone with a bit more pedigree and a bit more personality. Lopetegui is going to have to win them over quickly.”
The former Palace owner also warned that Lopetegui will need significant backing in the transfer market this summer to reshape an aging West Ham squad. The Hammers are reportedly targeting six to eight new signings to improve a defense that conceded 52 goals last season and provide more support for striker Michail Antonio.
“Lopetegui is going to need money to spend,” Jordan said. “That West Ham squad is not good enough as it is. If he doesn’t get the backing from the owners and the players he wants, then I think he’ll struggle.”
With the pressure on from the outset, Jordan believes Lopetegui will have to prove his worth by the halfway point of the season. Failure to have West Ham challenging in the top half of the table by Christmas, he argues, should result in the Spaniard being shown the door.
“I think West Ham have to give Lopetegui until Christmas to show what he can do,” Jordan concluded. “But if they’re languishing in the bottom half of the table and there’s no sign of progress, then they’ll have to make a change. The fans won’t accept another season of struggle.”
Only time will tell if Lopetegui can silence his doubters and lead West Ham to a successful season. But with the clock ticking and the pressure on, the new manager knows he must hit the ground running at the London Stadium.