Leeds United's Premier League relegation rivals 'consider' huge sack decision after 'embarrassing' defeat
Leeds United will have a keen eye on West Ham's decision as the Premier League relegation battle heats up.
Leeds United could see another of their Premier League relegation rivals make a managerial change amid reports of growing pressure on West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
West Ham’s winless run extended to nine games on Saturday after they lost 3-0 at rock-bottom Wolves, who before this weekend hadn’t won a Premier League game since April. All three goals were conceded in the first-half with defeat leaving the Hammers 18th, four points from safety and seven short of Leeds.
The Whites could pull as many as 10 points clear of West Ham if they win their game in hand at home to Manchester United today, and in a desperate attempt to stop the rot London Stadium chiefs could make a second change in the dugout. TalkSPORT reported after Saturday’s defeat that Espirito Santo could be replaced if form doesn’t improve, with pressure intensifying.
Espirito Santo was only hired by West Ham at the end of September, replacing Graham Potter, but since that point the Hammers have only got worse. The Portuguese coach apologised to fans following defeat on Saturday, admitting he felt embarrassed by the nature, conceding all three goals in the opening 45 minutes.
“I don’t recall one day that I felt so bad on a football pitch like today,” he said. “I have to apologise to the fans. For those that travelled, it was embarrassing. There’s not much I can say other than we are sorry. We are sorry because what we showed was not good enough. Today was the worst performance we had.”
According to talkSPORT, some in charge at West Ham have been ‘left perplexed’ by Espirito Santo’s reluctance to start a recognised striker, with Jarrod Bowen often leading the line. Callum Wilson did start upfront at Wolves but it made little difference, while Nicklas Fullkrug recently left for AC Milan.
Pressure growing on West Ham boss amid form slump
The Hammers splashed around £21million on striker Pablo Felipe from Portuguese outfit Gil Vicente earlier this week, although he is not expected to be an instant-impact signing. A £25m fee for Lazio’s Taty Castellanos has been agreed but is reportedly on hold amid Espirito Santo’s uncertain future.
West Ham face 17th-placed Nottingham Forest on Tuesday in a massive bottom-of-the-table clash in which at least one of Leeds’ direct relegation rivals are guaranteed to drop points. Defeat for the Hammers could be enough for a decision to be made on Espirito Santo, who only this week is believed to have championed signing of Felipe.
Among the candidates to potentially replace Espirito Santo as West Ham’s third manager of the season is Slaven Bilic, who was sacked by the East London back outfit in 2017 to stave off relegation. The 57-year-old was in the running to succeed Potter back in September but lost out to the man he could end up replacing.
Former West Ham and Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick is also reportedly a contender to take over at the London Stadium. He was most recently in charge of Middlesbrough but was sacked at the end of last season, having failed to secure a Championship play-off spot.