On Monday, West Ham United sealed a 2-0 win over Newcastle United and this result has eased some pressure on Julen Lopetegui.
West Ham have managed four wins from 14 league games and there were concerns over the manager’s future at the club.
Over the past few days, Lopetegui has been making headlines in Spain, and it’s mainly not related to his situation at West Ham.
The 58-year-old managed La Roja for two years and was relieved from duty days before the 2018 World Cup kicked off. He had used Gerard Piqué and Sergio Ramos, who were then at Barcelona and Real Madrid, as his first-choice centre-backs.
At the weekend, Piqué stated both the current Hammers manager and Ramos asked him to issue a public apology for his support of the Catalonia referendum in 2017.
“I go with the Spanish national team, I arrive in Madrid, in Las Rozas, and, surprisingly, that night the coach [Lopetegui] and the captain, who was Ramos, take me,” Marca quoted him as saying.
“And well, Julen had prepared a paper for me in which he wrote what I had to say and told me that I should give a press conference. Look, if you want me to give a press conference I will do it, but in my own way and I will say what I believe. I’m not going to apologise, I’ll let you know.”
El Partidazo de COPE’s Juanma Castaño got in touch with the former Sevilla manager and presented his stance. The journalist’s comments are relayed by Marca.
“Julen Lopetegui categorically denies that he told Piqué that he had to apologise,” Castaño explained.
The remarks haven’t pleased Lopetegui, and the Cope presenter claims the West Ham coach will respond to it publicly.
“[Lopetegui] hasn’t said anything, but I think he’s not going to remain silent… and that he’s going to say it. The only thing I can tell you about the conversation I had with Lopetegui is that there are half-truths here that are worse than outright lies,” he added.
“I don’t know exactly where Lopetegui’s argument is going to go when he takes the floor.”
