Julen Lopetegui, the Spanish coach recently dismissed from his position at West Ham, gave a lengthy interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport, published in today’s edition, admitting that he was very close to taking over the Milan bench before Paulo Fonseca. Below is an excerpt from his statements.
On negotiations with AC Milan last May:
“Milan reached out to me, and I was thrilled. A historic and attractive club, and I’ve always liked Serie A, following it closely because of the way it interprets football as a collective game. Arrigo Sacchi strongly fueled my curiosity about football, he inspired me, I studied him, and I was fortunate to meet him. The talks were progressing well, then suddenly stopped. It’s not my place to point out or comment on the reasons for the halt.”
On previous contacts with Italian clubs:
“It had happened before, at times when I had different plans. But my connection with Serie A isn’t over. Sooner or later, I’d like to coach there, and honestly, I think I’ll get the chance to test myself in what I consider a highly stimulating league from a tactical standpoint.”
On the new Champions League format, Lopetegui said:
“I like it. For now, it’s exciting, intense, and engaging—the uncertainty of the final matchday was historic, with almost everyone fighting for something. But we’ll have to see in the medium term. Of course, there are two extra games, and the calendar is already packed. A major system overhaul is eagerly awaited in this regard—there needs to be a balance between physical demands and financial interests. The five-substitution rule was a great step forward, but now something else is needed. In England, with two domestic cups and the holiday fixture schedule, it’s madness.”
On Milan vs. Feyenoord at San Siro tonight:
“Nowadays, almost every team in the Champions League is capable of causing problems for their opponents. Some leagues are less demanding, allowing young players to develop well and compete effectively in Europe by focusing on continental objectives. Feyenoord changed coaches and saw Santiago Giménez move to Milan—two significant changes, but clearly, their structure was solid, as seen in the first leg. That said, Milan has the necessary quality to mount a comeback.”
