West Ham’s big win over Ipswich has dispersed some of the dark clouds that were gathering, particularly over Julen Lopetegui and star player Mohammed Kudus.
The match before the international break is always a big one for managers who are under pressure – like West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui.
Had the Hammers lost that game the negativity around the club could have turned toxic.
Especially given what had gone on the week before.
People respond to pressure in very different ways and there has been plenty of it around West Ham under Lopetegui so far.
That pressure bubbled to the surface at Brentford when Lopetegui had a widely publicised bust-up with star player Mohammed Kudus.
Passions spilled over during a tense half-time team talk at the Gtech.
West Ham boss singled out Kudus for not being a team player
West Ham’s head coach singled out Kudus for criticism, accusing him – as he since admitted to the press – that he was not playing for the team.
Kudus took exception to being criticised and was ruthlessly hooked by Lopetegui, who confirmed it was a tactical substitution for the benefit of the team.
The incident raised eyebrows and left some supporters puzzled.
Kudus was far from West Ham’s worst player on the day. In fact in a dismal first half he was one of the only players who looked like he might make something happen.
Many fans questioned the wisdom of Lopetegui singling out Kudus.
Firstly because the player has been played out of position by the Spaniard since he arrived.
And secondly because Kudus has been carrying West Ham for the best part of a year
Stunning new Kudus revelation makes Lopetegui look foolish
It has been claimed the pair have put the moment behind them.
The star boy scored his first goal of the season in the 4-1 win over Ipswich too.
But now a stunning new Kudus revelation makes Lopetegui look a bit foolish at West Ham.
Everyone knows Kudus has been breaking Premier League records for his dribbling and take-ons.
And he has always worked hard for the team since arriving from Ajax.
Now football analytics site Statmuse has revealed Kudus has been doing more than his fair share when it comes to being a team player.
The site has revealed Kudus has won 44 duels in seven games so far this season – the joint seventh highest of any player in the entire top flight.
Astonishing Kudus stats prove he is a team player
Only Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes – with 285 – finished ahead of the Hammers star last season.
And the Magpies midfielder is top again so far this season with 13 more duels won than Kudus.
There is a theory that Lopetegui may have used the Kudus situation to try and show who is boss at West Ham.
If the improved performance and convincing win over Ipswich is evidence of that then it goes down as clever management.
But these astonishing Kudus statistical revelations probably show just why he was so angry when he was accused of not being a team player last weekend.
All water under the bridge now of course.
One thing it does underline, though, is that Kudus is absolutely fundamental in every way to Lopetegui and West Ham being successful this season.
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