West Ham United head coach Julen Lopetegui has been speaking candidly about Edson Alvarez.
Edson Alvarez was brought to West Ham by David Moyes in the summer of 2023, and he has gone on to establish himself as a vitally important player for the Hammers.
However, he has a big problem with his discipline, and recently missed our clash with Brentford after a stupid sending off against Liverpool.
Julen Lopetegui needs Alvarez to be on top form between now and the end of the season.
The Mexico international is one of the very best there is at breaking up play, but he has been nowhere near his best for West Ham this season.
The hamstring injury he suffered during the Copa America back in June prevented him from a proper pre-season with the Hammers.
However, the onus is very much on him now to improve.
That said, there is one thing that he absolutely has to eradicate from his game…
Julen Lopetegui makes admission about West Ham ace Edson Alvarez
Since arriving at the London Stadium from Ajax, Alvarez has picked up an extraordinary 19 yellow cards and one red card in just 49 games.
That simply isn’t good enough. He needs to sort out his temperament and his reckless nature as a matter of urgency.
The good thing is that Lopetegui is very much aware of the problem.
The Hammers head coach sat down to speak with Fox Sports Mexico about Alvarez, and responded when asked how the midfielder can improve.
He said, “He’s a boy with a lot of energy; as you rightly say, and without a doubt he’s an important player for us,”
“I think that in that adaptation too, in that energy, he has to be able to manage it in the best possible way, and for it to be an energy that helps and makes him become a better and better footballer.”
“We are also working on it, and he is aware of that circumstance, and every time I’m sure he’s going to be a better player and help us more, without any doubt.”
It’s all well and good when players show ‘faux’ passion by flying into challenges, but the West Ham fans see through all of that.
Just ask Craig Bellamy…
Edson Alvarez has to be smarter with the way that he goes about things when playing for West Ham, and it seems like Julen Lopetegui is trying to drum that into him.
Hopefully the Mexican learns to control his aggression, because he’ll be no use to us if he can’t.
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