West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui has acknowledged his tactical missteps following a disheartening 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League.
The Spanish tactician, who replaced David Moyes at the helm of the Hammers in May, has come under scrutiny for his team’s recent struggles.
Despite the setback against Chelsea, Lopetegui remains resolute in his belief that he can learn from his mistakes. In a pre-match press conference ahead of West Ham’s League Cup third-round tie away to holders Liverpool, the former Spain and Real Madrid boss admitted that errors are an inevitable part of football management.
“We learn a lot from our mistakes,” Lopetegui stated. “When you win, you make mistakes too. When you lose, you make mistakes. This is football. The important thing is that we are able to do better. We have made a big commitment with the players, knowing that the most important thing is at the end of the season.”
"I don't think we were ever in the game"
Jarrod Bowen reflects on a tough loss for West Ham to Chelsea…
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The Hammers have endured a challenging start to the season, with just one victory in their first five league games. Lopetegui has faced criticism for his team selection and tactics, particularly after the defeat to Chelsea. However, the manager remains confident in his ability to turn things around.
“I told the media after the Chelsea game that the first person responsible was me. Always,” Lopetegui said. “It happened, and now we are focused on the next match. Mistakes are made by the coach. They are part of football because we make decisions – sometimes better, sometimes worse. But we have to keep making decisions to help the team to compete better.”
