The West Ham United fans could not quite believe it when Julen Lopetegui didn’t start Crysencio Summerville for our game against Manchester United on Sunday.
Julen Lopetegui was a man under real pressure before the West Ham vs Manchester United clash at the London Stadium, and his decision not to play Crysencio Summerville from the start was certainly a bold one.
However, given the context and the eventual result, it’s hard to suggest that the Hammers head coach actually got it wrong.
Sure, we were lucky to get the win in the end after being awarded an incredibly soft penalty – one that has been described as ‘mind-blowing’ by some sections of the media.
However, a win is a win, and that’s all that mattered in the end on Sunday.
Lopetegui deserves his flowers – he made the right changes at the right time, and those substitutions helped us secure the all important victory.
As fans, we’re all guilty at times of questioning decisions made by managers.
This time though, we should all accept that the Spaniard got the Summerville decision absolutely spot on…
Julen Lopetegui shares why Crysencio Summerville didn’t start vs Man United
I’m not sure I’ve seen a manager be criticised more heavily than Lopetegui during his first four months in charge of the Hammers.
And the angry mob were out in force on Sunday, when Lopetegui’s team-sheet dropped.
I myself was fuming to see Summerville not included in the starting lineup.
However, Lopetegui has now explained exactly why he didn’t start the Dutchman, as quoted by The Athletic:
“We thought for this second half, with Manchester playing on Thursday, that we would have more energy with Summerville playing. Fortunately, it worked very well. The players played with commitment and energy. Our heads didn’t drop when we conceded.”
I have got to admit, that’s genius from Lopetegui.
Manchester United played on Thursday night out in Turkey, and wouldn’t have arrived back home until Friday morning at the earliest.
The players would undoubtedly have been tired, and Erik ten Hag’s plan would have been to blow the Hammers away inside the first-half.
In fairness to them, that so nearly happened, but when we went in at half-time with the scores level, it was very much advantage West Ham.
Julen Lopetegui brought Crysencio Summerville on at the break, and the 22-year-old changed the game.
Whilst most Hammers fans wanted the former Leeds man to start, we can all surely now accept that Lopetegui actually had some method to his madness.
And he deserves huge credit for the decision he made in my opinion.
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