What Lucas Paqueta did at the final whistle in Leverkusen enraged West Ham’s fans, especially the dedicated supporters who travelled to Germany.
David Moyes called for leadership, bravery and nous when West Ham went to Bayer Leverkusen.
Prior to the Europa League quarter-final first leg the manager gave Lucas Paqueta the carrot and stick treatment.
He made it clear West Ham needed the Brazilian at his best without the sides of his game ‘which can drive us mad’.
Well many Hammers fans feel Paqueta is largely to blame for potentially costing their side the tie.
Commentators and pundits such as Joe Cole claim Paqueta was lucky not to see red for the wild kick out which saw him booked in the first half.
Paqueta should’ve know better
Not only did that mean Paqueta will miss the crucial second leg at the London Stadium but he was left treading on eggshells for the rest of the game.
Two soft late goals have given West Ham a mountain to climb next week.
And it is a mountain they’ll have to climb without Paqueta or Emerson Palmieri after he too was booked.
Many Hammers supporters were angry that Paqueta got himself booked in such brainless fashion.
But they would be incensed by his actions at the end of the match.
What Paqueta did at the final whistle in Leverkusen enraged West Ham’s travelling fans.
As the final whistle blew on the crushing 2-0 defeat, West Ham’s players made their way over to the 2,000 travelling fans.
Paqueta went straight down the tunnel after loss
All except Paqueta that is.
The sulky Brazilian went straight down the tunnel without acknowledging the West Ham supporters who had travelled to the BayArena.
Perhaps Paqueta was embarrassed about his costly booking? Maybe he was so frustrated with the result and performance he just wanted to get out of there.
Neither are an excuse for not showing basic respect to the supporters who have gone to great lengths to cheer the loyal and dedicated away faithful.
It’s bang out of order in fact.
And it has not gone down well at all with West Ham’s travelling fans for whom it left a sour taste the mouth having already swallowed the bitter pill of an ultra defensive performance which failed to avoid defeat.
Paqueta will be missing next week and statistics show West Ham are seriously poor without him.
Bang out of order on loyal travelling fans
He knows that because he went on a social media spree last month highlighting posts stating that very fact.
Why then was he so reckless in getting booked when he knew he was on a ban?
Paqueta should have been the first one over to the away support to applaud them and even offer an apology.
But as frustrated as he may be playing in Moyes’ defensive system, he knows he let him team down somewhat.
Let’s hope Moyes, captain Kurt Zouma and other senior Hammers stars have a word with the Brazilian about his actions.
Although with a sale to Man City seemingly inevitable this summer – if the case against him over accusations of involvement in illegal betting on receiving yellow cards is concluded favourably – then maybe there’s little point.
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