Former West Ham manager David Moyes believes Julen Lopetegui “needs time” despite the pressure starting to ramp up following Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest.
The Hammers, who had Edson Alvarez sent off on the stroke of half-time at the City Ground, looked disjointed and received a hostile reception from the visiting fans at the final whistle.
Lopetegui has led the club to just three wins from their opening 10 Premier League games after succeeding Moyes in East London and newspaper reports this morning suggested he had been told to arrest the slide quickly or face the sack.
His predecessor is confident, though, the Spaniard can turn things around.
Moyes told the BBC’s Football Daily podcast: “I had a few defeats where we lost heavily at different times, so it happens for all managers.
“I think the new manager coming in needs time and to be given that opportunity to set things the way he wants them to happen.
“They look as if they’re a bit more open than they’ve been before and more liable possibly to concede. But they’re desperately trying to score more goals as well.”
“We have to say sorry to our fans”
Julen Lopetegui reacts to our defeat against Nottingham Forest. pic.twitter.com/6XnOaxY2Xe
— West Ham United (@WestHam) November 2, 2024
Players should be doing better – Moyes
Moyes led West Ham into Europe three times and they won the Conference League in 2023 with the bulk of those players still at the club.
And he feels the focus should not just be on the dugout.
He added: “This time last year, I think we’d played about five or six more games than what they have just now, because we had the European competition to compete with as well. So the players there should be much fresher, bigger energy, showing that.
“But I just think that the manager needs to be given an opportunity, a bit of time to settle things down. Sometimes players need to perform as well, they need to step up and show what they’re about. I’m sure a few of them can play better and show the manager exactly what they can do.”
