“Make-or-break” – talkSPORT host shares Lopetegui’s assessment following West Ham’s performance.
Bianca Westwood of talkSPORT believes West Ham United's 4-1 victory against Ipswich Town was a pivotal moment for Julen Lopetegui.
West Ham United climbed to 12th in the league table after a decisive victory that ended a streak of three consecutive home defeats to begin the season.
Julen Lopetegui, the team’s manager, had come under scrutiny early in his tenure due to an inconsistent start to the campaign.
Speaking live on talkSPORT (8 October, 06:42am), Westwood highlighted the significance of the win for Lopetegui.
“There are sections of the West Ham fanbase that never really wanted Lopetegui in the first place,” Westwood said.
“You don’t want to give them any more reasons to criticize him.
Yes, we’ve played tough teams like Villa, City, and Chelsea at home, but you’d still expect to pick up at least a point from those matches.
The performances weren’t great, so the match against Ipswich felt like a make-or-break moment for Lopetegui.”
West Ham supporters had high expectations this season, fueled by a busy summer transfer window.
However, the team’s slow start led some fans to question Lopetegui’s leadership.
The victory over Ipswich provided a much-needed boost for the Hammers, and now there is hope that some of the summer signings will begin to make a more significant impact.
One of those signings is French defender Jean-Clair Todibo, who was brought in by Lopetegui to strengthen the squad.
Although Todibo has only recently been given a regular spot in the starting lineup, his potential to help the team maintain clean sheets is already becoming evident.
Alongside Max Kilman, Todibo is expected to form a formidable defensive partnership.
While fans should temper their excitement given that the win came against Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich, it’s clear that the positive result is a step in the right direction for West Ham, offering some relief and optimism for the games ahead.
