West Ham United head coach Julen Lopetegui has spoken out about his decision to replace Mohammed Kudus at half-time during our clash with Brentford.
Mohammed Kudus wasn’t great for West Ham against the Bees, but Julen Lopetegui still raised some eyebrows by taking him off, and replacing him with Carlos Soler.
The former Ajax star has been sensational for the Hammer since moving to the London Stadium in the summer of 2023.
However, he still has many more levels yet to reach. For example, he doesn’t get his head up enough and find his teammates for my liking, holding onto the ball for far too long instead.
Kudus will undoubtedly improve in that regard as he continues to gain more experience, but he is still our most explosively exciting player.
On his day he’s unplayable, and that’s why Lopetegui taking him off during our clash with Brentford made so little sense. The Ghana international is a game-changer – someone you want on the pitch when you’re trailing.
And Lopetegui’s explanation for his decision to bring Kudus off was actually really concerning.
Julen Lopetegui makes worrying Mohammed Kudus claim
The Spaniard spoke to reporters after Saturday’s draw with Brentford.
Unsurprisingly, the topic of conversation quickly centered around the Kudus substitution at half-time.
Lopetegui lifted the lid on his thinking behind bringing Carlos Soler on in place of the Ghanaian star, as quoted by Evening Standard.
He said, “It was a tactical decision. I was thinking we needed that. I was thinking that was better for the team and we needed these kinds of changes. The second half we worked as a team.“
Now, that’s hugely worrying to hear as far as I’m concerned.
Sure, the fact that Kudus isn’t injured is good news, but Lopetegui suggesting that we operated better as a team without the Ghanaian is certainly cause for concern.
Kudus and Lopetegui not a match made in heaven
As things stand, the Spaniard definitely isn’t getting the best out of Kudus, and that’s hugely concerning.
Lopetegui continues to play him out wide on the left – a position that doesn’t suit the 24-year-old whatsoever.
Kudus us far better when playing either in the number 10 position or out wide on the right wing, so that he can cut back inside on to his left foot.
Why Lopetegui hasn’t grasped this yet really is anyone’s guess – it’s just really strange to say the least.
Mohammed Kudus has so much to offer, and he’s West Ham’s best attacking player as far as I’m concerned.
The way that Lopetegui is managing him will not be sitting well with the Ghana international though. And if there is any kind of friction between the two, the former Ajax ace’s future may well lie away from the London Stadium.
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