Graham Potter’s instant response to managing West Ham as Julen Lopetegui pressure grows
Julen Lopetegui’s position at West Ham is under serious threat and former Chelsea manager Graham Potter has refused to rule out the possibility of managing the Hammers
Graham Potter has hinted he would consider the West Ham United managerial role if Julen Lopetegui is shown the door. The Spanish manager’s position is increasingly precarious after a five-match winless streak in the Premier League.
Lopetegui’s chances of remaining at the helm were further dented on Tuesday night following a defeat to Leicester City, with goals from Jamie Vardy, Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka securing victory for the Foxes under new boss Ruud van Nistelrooy. Despite having 31 shot attempts, the Hammers only managed a last-gasp consolation goal from Niclas Fullkrug.
Potter, who was providing analysis for Amazon Prime, didn’t dismiss the idea of taking over at West Ham when questioned by host Dan Walker about his future career plans. When asked if he was considering a return to management, the ex-Chelsea boss confirmed he was keeping all options on the table, reports the Express.
“Yeah, of course,” he responded. “As I’ve said before, you are open to everything. At the same time, I am really enjoying this [punditry] as well because it gives you another perspective.”
He added: “You get to see it from your eyes and how the media thinks about the game. That’s always interesting. It’s a different lens and that can only make you better once you understand that. I’ve enjoyed that.”
Potter was previously quizzed about the speculation linking him to the Leicester managerial position before Ruud van Nistelrooy’s appointment. He said then: “What I’ve realised is that, in this world, you don’t believe everything you read in the newspaper.