Opinion: Lopetegui’s Revelation Highlights West Ham’s Issues—Potter Must Fix Them

West Ham’s performances under Graham Potter have been inconsistent, with just two wins in his last five matches.

However, there is no immediate pressure on him, as fans remain satisfied with the progress made since he replaced Julen Lopetegui earlier this year.

Lopetegui’s Struggles at West Ham

Julen Lopetegui’s time in East London was far from successful, and his departure felt inevitable when it finally happened.

Behind-the-scenes issues were evident, particularly involving Tim Steidten, whom Lopetegui has since mentioned in interviews.

Meanwhile, West Ham had already started discussions with Potter while Lopetegui was still overseeing training sessions.

Reports also suggested that Lopetegui had clashed with certain players, further contributing to the negative atmosphere.

Given these circumstances, it is no surprise that Potter has been warmly welcomed as his replacement.

One area of the club that may feel particularly relieved by this change is the youth academy, as recent comments from young defender Jethro Medine have highlighted the previous dysfunction.

Medine’s Experience Under Lopetegui

Speaking on the Let’s Talk Football podcast (16 March), Medine shared a revealing story about his time under Lopetegui. He recalled:

“There was one session when Lopetegui was still at the club. They had already started training. He threw me a bib and said, ‘Go play, you’re playing striker.’

Aaron Wan-Bissaka came up to me and asked, ‘Where do you play?’ I told him, ‘I’m a right-back. I don’t want to play striker.’

He said, ‘Go on, you can play right-back. I’ll go there instead.’ He’s a good role model.”

This incident underscores the lack of structure under Lopetegui and the disorganization that affected player development.

Medine’s Future Under Potter

At just 18 years old, Medine has already shown promise in West Ham’s youth ranks.

Having trained with the first team, he aspires to follow in the footsteps of players like Aaron Wan-Bissaka at the London Stadium.

This season, the young right-back signed his first professional contract and has made 17 appearances for the under-18s, gaining valuable experience.

With Potter’s willingness to integrate young players—evidenced by Ollie Scarles’ rise to the first team—there is optimism about the future.

For Medine, his past experiences under Lopetegui may make him even more eager to work with a manager who nurtures talent rather than forcing players into unfamiliar roles.

His comments make it clear where things went wrong under the previous boss, but Potter appears determined to change that.