Bruno Fernandes hints West Ham may have chosen the wrong manager this summer

Julen Lopetegui took over from David Moyes as the new West Ham manager earlier this summer, with his appointment becoming official on July 1st.

Expectations were high for the 58-year-old, but so far, he has struggled to implement his ideas at the London Stadium.

There were rumors last month that Lopetegui’s job was already at risk.

However, it has since been clarified that these claims were unfounded.

While it’s still early to pass full judgment on the Spaniard, the initial signs suggest that his playing style isn’t much different from that of Moyes.

West Ham fans have long desired a fast-paced, exciting brand of football, but the team’s performances under Lopetegui have largely been underwhelming.

So far, the season has been a difficult watch for the supporters.

The club had the opportunity to take a different path in the summer when replacing Moyes.

Now, Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has spoken highly of another potential candidate for the West Ham managerial role, who might have been a better fit.

Bruno Fernandes has implied that West Ham may have appointed the wrong manager, pointing to Lopetegui’s struggles at the London Stadium.

While a 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town recently provided some relief, it has not fully eased the pressure on Lopetegui.

A significant portion of the fanbase still questions whether he was the right choice for the job.

Fernandes, in an interview with CNN Portugal, expressed his admiration for Ruben Amorim, one of the names linked with replacing Moyes.

He praised Amorim’s work at Sporting CP, noting that since his arrival, the team has played some of the best football in the league.

Fernandes commented on the team’s consistency and the smart decisions in the transfer market, highlighting Amorim’s success in winning two league titles with Sporting—an achievement made even more remarkable considering the club had gone 20 years without a championship before his arrival.

In Fernandes’s words, “Coaching Sporting and winning championships is not easy, Sporting went 20 years without winning championships and Amorim arrived and has already won two, this shows that the work has been done well.”

He further suggested that Amorim possesses the qualities necessary to succeed in England or Spain, though he noted that no one would know for sure until Amorim took on such a challenge.

Amorim’s success at Sporting and the brand of football he has developed there make him a standout figure in European football.

His teams play an aggressive, high-pressing style, with a 3-4-3 formation that shifts into a 5-2-3 when defending.

This approach requires physically demanding performances from his players, but it has produced results, as demonstrated by Sporting’s resurgence.

Reflecting on what could have been, many West Ham supporters may feel a sense of regret.

Back in April, it was reported that Amorim had emerged as the top target to replace Moyes, with the 39-year-old holding talks with club co-owner David Sullivan.

At the time, it was suggested that his £17 million release clause wouldn’t be a stumbling block for the club.

However, despite these discussions, Amorim remained at Sporting, and West Ham ultimately appointed Lopetegui.

Many see this as a missed opportunity, given Amorim’s reputation as one of Europe’s brightest managerial talents.

Watching Sporting under Amorim is a stark contrast to the football currently being played at West Ham.

His dynamic, high-intensity style might have been exactly what the Hammers needed to evolve their play and excite the fanbase.

In the end, Ruben Amorim could be viewed as the one that got away for West Ham.

Bruno Fernandes has made it clear just how highly Amorim is regarded, and there remains a lingering feeling that West Ham might have thrived under his leadership instead of Lopetegui’s.