‘Possessed’ Julen Lopetegui will prove everyone wrong at West Ham United according to one of his former managers.
There has been no sign of a red carpet being rolled out for Julen Lopetegui at West Ham.
Indeed not even a claret one – and there must be plenty left over from when they replaced the green astro at the London Stadium.
A large number of West Ham fans are unconvinced by the appointment of Lopetegui.
There is no doubt judgement has been clouded by a very negative press.
Lopetegui’s fellow Spaniard Guillem Balague has been fighting a lonely battle valiantly trying to justify his compatriot’s credentials.
Balague has become somewhat exasperated at some of the cynicism and criticism Lopetegui has received from his fellow journalists, pundits and some fans.
The 57-year-old ‘won over’ David Sullivan when the pair met for his interview, as exclusively revealed to Hammers News by Graeme Bailey long before his appointment.
But Lopetegui must now try to do the same with his doubters – of which there are many.
So many in fact Hammers News asked a few weeks ago can anybody find Lopetegui somebody to love?
Well now we have.
In the shape of his old boss, the respected and somewhat madcap former manager Carlos Aimar.
And he says ‘possessed’ Lopetegui will prove everyone wrong at West Ham.
Aimar, who managed Boca Juniors and was in charge of Lopetegui at Logrones, promises the Hammers they are about to go on an exciting journey with their new head coach.
“Julen knew the only way to go higher, to improve and match those with greater natural talent was hard work, it’s the Basque mentality,” Aimar told The Sun, page ?
“After every single session he would run over and ask for a copy of the sessions we’d just done. Then, at the end of the season, I’d give him my whole book of coaching drills.
“He’d be asking about movement, the use of space… and when I told him ‘keepers aren’t just there to stop shots, i he understood straightaway and was one of the first to play from the back.
“It was like he was possessed and I made him captain because of that passion. He was relentless, politely asking the reason for line-ups, substitutions and, of course, tactics.
“He was a leader, the perfect extension of a coach on the pitch and I think I passed on that incurable virus of being a football coach.
“I knew someone with that dedication and determination was a future coach.
“Lopetegui and West Ham is a good combination.
“They are getting a very hard-working coach who is hungry to succeed. I’m sure it will be an exciting journey.”
In fairness Aimar and Balague are not the only ones championing Lopetegui since his appoint as David Moyes’ replacement.
Sky Sports’ leading analyst Adam Bate also believes West Ham and the former Spain boss will prove to be a perfect match.
Many supporters who were on the fence about him are also warming to the idea having heard from the man himself about his plans and ambition, which you can see below.