After suffering a severe injury during their humbling League Cup loss to Liverpool, West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui humorously ruled himself out of his team’s upcoming match.
Usually, only players get injuries in football, but Loptegui was so furious with the London club’s performance during Wednesday’s crushing 5-1 loss that he injured his calf jumping in frustration.
The Spanish player may still be needing crutches for Saturday’s Premier League encounter against Brentford, a rival of West Ham in London, as he shuffled about the team’s training facility on Thursday.
“I can’t play in this match, for sure,” Lopetegui joked. “I have a little injury in my calf. But it’s not important. I don’t play so it’s not important.”
The former Spain and Real Madrid boss, who replaced David Moyes at West Ham, is under increasing pressure just months into his new job after a poor start to the season.
The club are 14th in the Premier League table after just one win in their first five matches.
“We know we have to improve,” said Lopetegui, who will be without Edson Alvarez against Brentford following the midfielder’s red card on Wednesday.
“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. I am sure of this.
“It’s true we need one win and we want to win the next match. The next challenge is Brentford. A very good team, a very complete team. Very strong away and especially at home.”
