West Ham coach Julen Lopetegui explains why he subbed Mohammed Kudus at half time

West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui has clarified his decision to substitute Mohammed Kudus at half-time during the Hammers’ 1-1 draw against Brentford on Saturday, attributing the change to tactical reasons rather than injury concerns.

Lopetegui's side earned a hard-fought point at the Gtech Community Stadium after Tomas Soucek equalised following Bryan Mbeumo's early opener for the hosts. While West Ham remain unbeaten away from home in the league this season, they have managed just one win in their first six matches, leaving Lopetegui searching for solutions in the early stages of his tenure.

Reflecting on the performance, Lopetegui said his team deserved more than a draw, particularly after a stronger second-half display. “We wanted the three points, and being honest, I think in the second half, we were better and deserved the win. We showed good personality and character,” he said.

Lopetegui made two significant substitutions at the break, bringing on Carlos Soler and Konstantinos Mavropanos in place of Kudus and Emerson. Explaining his decision to take off the Ghanaian forward, he said: “It was a tactical decision. I was thinking that we need that. I was thinking that was better for the team and we needed these kinds of changes.”

Lopetegui was quick to dismiss any injury concerns surrounding Kudus, stressing that the substitution was purely tactical as the team sought a better balance in the second half. 

Looking ahead, Lopetegui acknowledged the growing importance of West Ham's upcoming home fixture against winless Ipswich Town. “We have to look forward to the next match,” he said. “We haven’t lost away in three matches, but we know we have to do better at home. We want to win this match for sure.”

Despite a challenging start to the season, West Ham supporters continue to rally behind Lopetegui and his team. "I have always felt the support of the fans, and today, too, it was very important. We were able to achieve one point and deserved more in the end," he added.]