West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui has found himself on the sidelines after suffering a calf injury.
The Spanish manager hurt his himself after jumping in frustration during Wednesday’s 5-1 League Cup loss to Liverpool.
Lopetegui’s passion got the better of him as he watched his team struggle on the pitch. His frustration boiled over, and he jumped up, injuring his calf in the process. The next day, he hobbled around the training ground on crutches, a testament to his emotional investment in the game.
With a hint of humor, Lopetegui joked about his injury, “I have a little injury in my calf. But it’s not important. I don’t play, so it’s not important.” However, the loss and his team’s poor performance weighed heavily on his mind.
As the new manager of West Ham, Lopetegui is under pressure. The team’s struggles have left them 14th in the Premier League table with just one win in their first five matches. To make matters worse, midfielder Edson Alvarez will miss their next game against Brentford due to a red card.
Despite the setbacks, Lopetegui remains optimistic. “We know we have to improve,” he said. “We are just starting. The demand is high. The Premier League is going to be long for all of us, and these players are going to improve.”
Lopetegui’s focus now shifts to their next challenge: Brentford. He acknowledges the team’s strength, calling them “very good, very complete, and very strong away and especially at home.” Can Lopetegui rally his team and turn their season around? Only time will tell.
