Mohammed Kudus’ difficult start to the season continued as he was substituted at halftime in West Ham’s 1-1 draw with Brentford.
After an impressive debut season with 8 goals and 6 assists, the Ghanaian midfielder has struggled to find his form under new manager Julen Lopetegui.
Kudus was replaced by Carlos Soler at halftime, sparking conversations about his role in the team.
Unlike last season, where he thrived in central positions under David Moyes, Kudus has been primarily used on the wings this season, looking uncomfortable and out of sync with his teammates.
Kudus has failed to find the back of the net in 12 games for club and country, with his last competitive strike coming on the final day of the 2023-24 season – scoring an acrobatic overhead-kick against Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Julen Lopetegui, the manager of West Ham, has revealed that his decision to replace Mohammed Kudus at halftime in the team’s 1-1 draw against Brentford was a tactical move, aimed at changing the team’s approach, rather than a result of Kudus being injured.
“It was a tactical decision. I was thinking we needed that. I was thinking that was better for the team and we needed these kinds of changes. The second half we worked as a team,” Lopetegui revealed in his post match interview.
Kudus inked a substantial long-term contract with West Ham after making the switch from Ajax in a deal exceeding €50 million, but it’s apparent that a shift in approach is required to help him reclaim his form and make a significant impact.
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Story by Asack Pius|univers.ug.edu.gh
