West Ham’s trip to Goodison Park ended in more controversy than quality football yesterday, with midfielder Lucas Paquetá once again in the spotlight—though not for the reasons Hammers fans would have hoped.
The flashpoint came midway through the second half when Paquetá tangled with Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolenko near the touchline. The Brazilian, already guilty of a clumsy foul in the build-up, inexplicably went to ground clutching his face—despite there being little to no contact in that area.
Fans and pundits alike were left shaking their heads. A clip of the incident quickly went viral on social media, with many branding Paquetá’s antics as “embarrassing.” One West Ham fan account summed up the mood perfectly: “This was embarrassing from Paquetá, there was no need to foul him in the first place either.”
Even The Final Whistle joined in on the criticism, asking: “Why on earth Paquetá is holding his face?”—a question many were left wondering as the Brazilian rolled on the turf.
The incident has reportedly not gone down well inside the West Ham dressing room either. According to whispers close to the club, manager Nuno Espírito Santo is said to be furious with the lack of professionalism on display and has allegedly told Paquetá to “start looking for a new club” if such behavior continues.
For a side desperately trying to climb back into the European spots, the last thing West Ham needed was a moment of needless playacting that undermined their fight on the pitch. Everton, meanwhile, capitalized on the visitors’ lack of focus and walked away with a crucial result that boosted their survival hopes.
It remains to be seen whether Paquetá will face any internal consequences for his theatrics, but one thing is certain—Hammers fans expect better. With key fixtures on the horizon, West Ham cannot afford distractions, especially ones of their own making.
If Paquetá wants to win back the trust of supporters and his manager, the next performances will need to be defined by grit and quality—not diving and face-clutching.
