Jean Clair Todibo needs to “toughen up” if he wants to play for West Ham in the Premier League, according to a top club source.
C&H’s Sean Whetstone spoke with a high-ranking Hammers official earlier this evening to inquire about the Frenchman’s absence from the first team.
When Sean expressed confusion over Julen Lopetegui not fully utilising the summer signing from Nice, the club source agreed, stating, “Agreed! He [Lopetegui] thinks he needs to toughen up for the Premier League, but he deserves a chance.”
This situation is even more puzzling given the team’s lacklustre performance against Chelsea yesterday, which drew heavy criticism from Jarrod Bowen. The Hammers captain noted that West Ham had stopped executing basic tactics, such as making tactical fouls, highlighting a lack of intensity in their performance.
It’s intriguing that Lopetegui has kept Todibo out of the side for a perceived lack of toughness, especially when the selected team put in such a feeble display against Chelsea. Perhaps with Bowen pointing out that many of the Hammers team were not up for the battle against Enzo Maresca’s side may aide the Frenchman’s route to the team.