Reports of a bust-up between West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui and winger Mohammed Kudus have been exaggerated, according to a top source at the club.
Claret & Hugh contacted a high-ranking Hammers official late last night to clarify speculation that Lopetegui and Kudus had to be separated at half-time against Brentford following a heated row.
The top West Ham insider told us this morning that suggestions the argument became physical were inaccurate: “That’s an exaggeration; both are passionate about improving things for the club. Everything was resolved amicably yesterday. In the heat of the moment, things are often said that are regretted.”
While it is interesting that the situation was resolved yesterday, it is good news for West Ham. The dressing room is a highly competitive environment where tensions and adrenaline can often run high. I’m quite certain that this type of altercation is commonplace in most dressing rooms; we just tend not to hear about it, as usual football etiquette dictates that news of these types of arguments rarely leave the privacy of the dressing room.