- Lopetegui's team lost 3-0 to a London rival, facing criticism.
- He admitted starting Guido Rodriguez was a mistake.
- Lopetegui accepts full responsibility for the team's performance.
After a disappointing 3-0 loss to their London rivals, Julen Lopetegui’s team is under scrutiny for its tactics and player selections. The 58-year-old Spanish manager has faced criticism for his decisions, particularly after he replaced Guido Rodriguez before halftime—a move he later admitted was a mistake. This defeat has intensified questions surrounding his strategy and effectiveness as the head coach.
In a pre-match press conference held on Tuesday, Lopetegui acknowledged his missteps, emphasizing that mistakes are inherent to the game. “We learn a lot from our mistakes,” he stated, highlighting the importance of learning from both victories and defeats. He added, “When you win, you make mistakes too. When you lose, you make mistakes. This is football.”
The manager noted that while he takes responsibility for his decisions, the focus should be on improving performance moving forward. “One thing that I say is that I make one mistake, and I have talked about this. Mistakes are a part of football. The more important thing is that we are able to do better,” Lopetegui explained, stressing the team’s commitment to improvement as they look toward the end of the season.
West Ham, who lost to Liverpool in the League Cup quarter-finals last season, has struggled under Lopetegui’s leadership, losing all three of their home league matches this season. Since replacing David Moyes in May, the team has found itself in 14th place in the league, managing to secure only four points from two away games—a win against Crystal Palace and a draw against Fulham.
Acknowledging the situation, Lopetegui stated, “I told the media after the Chelsea game that the first person responsible was me. Always.” He is determined to shift the focus from past mistakes to the upcoming match, emphasizing the need for the team to regroup and prepare effectively.
The coach reiterated that mistakes made during matches are part of the decision-making process that comes with his role. “Mistakes are made by the coach. They are part of football because we make decisions—sometimes better, sometimes worse,” he said, demonstrating his willingness to reflect on his choices while maintaining a forward-looking approach.
Looking ahead, Lopetegui expressed confidence in the team’s potential to improve and compete more effectively in future matches. “But we have to keep making decisions to help the team to compete better. I am sure that the team is going to compete better and is going to arrive at the results and scores that we want,” he concluded, emphasizing optimism for the challenges that lie ahead.
