Beleaguered head coach Julen Lopetegui may be under pressure at West Ham but he’s coming out fighting in more ways than one.
People respond to pressure in very different ways and there’s usually plenty of it at West Ham.
Some shrivel up, start doubting themselves and ultimately succumb to it.
Others, like under pressure West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui it seems, face it head on.
The Spaniard is already fighting off the press, among whom the knives have been out for him from day one.
Lopetegui has even been having bust-ups with his own players.
Passions spilled over during a tense half-time team talk at Brentford on Saturday.
As has been widely reported, the Hammers boss singled out star player Mohammed Kudus for criticism.
Lopetegui had seen enough. He clearly reached breaking point after just one win in six Premier League games.
Kudus was far from West Ham’s worst player on the day.
But when he took exception to being criticised, he was ruthlessly hooked by Lopetegui. West Ham went on to secure a draw and played better in a second half which also saw Lucas Paqueta shake his head at the manager when he too was substituted.
Of course when West Ham’s manager went in front of the press this week, the incidents were among the first things he was asked about.
Lopetegui sends clear message to two top West Ham stars
The boss came out swinging, though.
Lopetegui sent a clear message to two top West Ham stars and it needed to be said.
His handling of Kudus and Paqueta has divided opinion among Hammers fans and observers.
Many blame Lopetegui for Kudus’ frustrations, feeling they are a result of being played out of position on the left.
Kudus has made it clear he wants to play centrally. And the star boy shone off the right last season.
West Ham have some supremely talented attacking players. Yet the team has created the fewest ‘big chances’ in the entire Premier League.
That’s because those stars are part of a problem that has been something of an elephant in the room for a while now – and too many have been ignoring it.
Until now.
Paqueta, Kudus and captain Bowen are all brilliant players. West Ham’s talismanic Holy Trinity without question.
But far too often they each – although less so Bowen – have a tendency to hang on to the ball too long, take one touch too many, overplay or make the selfish choice.
Kudus and Paqueta needed to be told
It means West Ham have not been as ruthless as they should be.
And that piles pressure on a completely new-look defence who are still getting to know each other, to keep clean sheets.
If you look at the goals West Ham have scored this season, they’ve come as a result of some quick passing and incisive play in the final third. Not mazy individual runs trying to take everyone on and win the game on your own.
Or by pulling off an impossible pass with a more sensible one is on.
Well whatever your stance on the manager, he’s not having it anymore.
‘Football is a collective game’ says Hammers boss
And he doesn’t care about who he upsets because – as he told the press yesterday – Kudus and Paqueta must start being team players.
“It’s important the team plays well, rather than one or two players,” Lopetegui said when specifically asked about Kudus and Paqueta.
“Football is a collective game.
“And the only way I know how to be able to be strong is to play as a team.”
Lopetegui is spot on and should be applauded for confronting an issue which has been holding West Ham back.
The Hammers just have to hope it gets the desired response now.
Starting against Ipswich on Saturday.
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