IT is the Premier League’s first Glove Affair for 31 YEARS.
Uniquely among the managerial fraternity, both Julen Lopetegui and Nuno Espirito Santo were goalkeepers in their playing careers before becoming bosses.
The last time two stoppers faced each other in opposing dugouts in the top flight was on Friday, April 9, 1993.
Tottenham crushed Norwich 5-1 at White Hart Lane — ex-Colchester keeper Mike Walker was manager of the Canaries, while former England No 1 Ray Clemence was in caretaker charge of Spurs along with Doug Livermore.
However, Friday’s clash at the City Ground, as surprise package Nottingham Forest face under-performing West Ham, represents the FIRST time two permanent chiefs who were former goalies going head to head.
Any suggestion you have to be crazy to become a keeper in the first place has been shot down by the Hammers manager.
Well-travelled Spaniard Lopetegui laughed: “This is a big lie! A very big lie.
“Normally the most sensible people in the dressing room are the goalkeepers. Believe me.
“You can say they are different but not crazy.”
There is an eight-year age gap between Lopetegui, 58, and Nuno, 50, but they are both ex-Porto managers and they crossed paths earlier this century in LaLiga combat.
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Lopetegui, who also coached at Real Madrid and Sevilla, said: “I’m a little bit older than him.
“Yes, I remember him as a keeper. I played against him as a coach, too. But we were never keeper on keeper. I didn’t play against him as a keeper.
“Who was the better goalkeeper? Ha, I forgot my time. I don’t remember a lot. Maybe me. I don’t know.”
Goalkeepers is a key theme of West Ham’s selection approach, as matchday 10 represents their first league visit outside of London.
Frenchman Alphonse Areola was dropped after the 4-1 defeat at Spurs even though he had started in the opening eight league ties.
Pole Lukasz Fabianski was given the responsibility for the home match with Manchester United last Sunday and pulled off several great saves to help the Hammers win 2-1 — a result that saw the Old Trafford axing of Erik ten Hag.
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Asked if he empathised with Areola’s disappointment, Lopetegui said: “I was a goalkeeper a long time ago. But I understand.
“I can change other positions. I repeat, you don’t change one player, it’s not about thinking that something is wrong with him.
“It’s thinking that maybe you’re going to be positive with this change.
“Sometimes it’s going to happen or not. In football, we don’t have a crystal ball. But we try to take the decision that we think will always help the team.
“Did I get dropped? A lot! In my opinion, to my coaches, I was right! It’s like this.
“We trust Alphonse a lot. He did very well in this team before. But we decided that in this match, Lukasz was more ready and maybe it was good to put him in for different reasons.
“All of them have to be ready to play. It’s up to us to decide who is going to be in or not.
“It’s not because we don’t trust them. It’s good, this kind of inside competition, to be more competitive.”
