Julen Lopetegui stuns with Lucas Paqueta call as West Ham United XI confirmed v Fulham
Julen Lopetegui will struggle to justify dropping Lucas Paqueta if West Ham United are unable to defeat Fulham on Saturday (14 September).
The Hammers will be looking to bounce back from their 3-1 loss to Manchester City before the international break, though they will have to do so without their Brazilian star.
While the 27-year-old did play both of Brazil’s World Cup qualification games during the break, Lopetegui has made a brave decision to drop him down to the bench.
With Paqueta axed from the starting XI, the Hammers will have to depend on the front trio of Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio, with Tomas Soucek in support.
The Czechia international had a “horrible” international break away from the London Stadium, performing dreadfully for his national team, which makes Lopetegui’s decision all the more baffling.
Julen Lopetegui drops Lucas Paqueta in West Ham United v Fulham
All of the Irons’ play goes through the Brazilian. While he only has one goal contribution in the Premier League so far this term, his involvement speaks for itself on the pitch.
Paqueta notched four goals and six assists, and with Lopetegui implementing a much more attacking style of play this season, he is likely to thrive in the West Ham starting XI.
However, the Hammers must do without him against Marco Silva’s Cottagers and still attempt to fight for all three points, which they haven’t managed in the last two meetings.
Of course, Paqueta will still be an option from the bench once the game opens up, but it is an extremely brave decision not to use his talents from the off.
It could be a decision that comes back to bite him.
In other West Ham news, international media lauded one Hammers star after he “finished off what he started”.
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