Lopetegui on the brink as West Ham faces a major setback ahead of Bournemouth clash.

Julen Lopetegui is under significant scrutiny at the moment, and West Ham’s victory over Wolves in the Premier League on Monday has done little to alleviate the pressure on him.

Reports suggest the Hammers board remains deeply concerned about Lopetegui’s ability to reverse the team’s fortunes at the London Stadium.

This lack of confidence is hardly surprising.

The Spanish manager has appeared overwhelmed and indecisive on the touchline throughout the season.

He has failed to establish any clear footballing identity or instill charisma within the squad, leaving fans and pundits questioning his leadership.

In truth, many feel Lopetegui should have been dismissed long ago.

Yet, he remains at the helm, though his position is precarious, and his tenure could soon reach its conclusion.

While the victory against Wolves was a relief, the performance itself was far from convincing. Jarrod Bowen’s brilliance secured the win, but the rest of the team offered little to inspire confidence.

With an upcoming clash against Bournemouth, the Hammers face an uphill battle to claim another crucial result.

Adding to the challenge is the announcement that Chris Kavanagh will officiate the game.

West Ham fans are all too familiar with the Greater Manchester-born referee, and their history with him is riddled with controversy.

Kavanagh has been at the center of several questionable decisions in the past, including a notorious red card for Fabian Balbuena in 2021 during a narrow 1-0 loss to Chelsea.

That decision, widely criticized as unjust, proved costly in West Ham’s pursuit of Champions League qualification.

Against Bournemouth, West Ham will need more than a moment of magic from Bowen. A collective team effort is essential to secure a positive result on the south coast.

However, with Kavanagh in charge, there’s a lingering fear that officiating decisions could once again play a significant role in the game’s outcome.

A defeat against Bournemouth could spell disaster, potentially marking the end of Lopetegui’s troubled tenure.

The stakes are undeniably high, and anything less than a win may serve as the final blow for a manager who has failed to win over fans, players, or the board.

West Ham’s future under Lopetegui hangs by a thread, and Monday’s game might seal his fate.