Julen Lopetegui spells out how Lucas Paqueta can bring himself out of West Ham slump
Brazil star Lucas Paqueta was dropped for last weekend's draw at Fulham but West Ham's head coach underlined the attacking midfielder's importance to his squad after difficult few months
by Alan Smith · The MirrorJulen Lopetegui is reluctant to place too much pressure on misfiring Lucas Paqueta.
And West Ham's new boss thinks the Brazil maverick can rediscover his best form in the final third if he doubles down on his defensive work. Paqueta, 27, was dropped for last weekend’s draw at Fulham having looked off the pace in their opening three games.
The dip comes after a disruptive summer in which he was charged with four betting offences that could see him banned for life if found guilty – though a decision is unlikely to be made until next year. He was also linked with a transfer away from East London only for talk of a move to home club Flamengo to collapse.
But when asked ahead of today’s meeting with Chelsea if Paqueta needs to raise his level, Lopetegui said: “I don't want to put this kind of responsibility on one player.
“He has to do the best he can about the offensive phase and defensive phase. When he is focused on the defensive work he is a much better player and we try to encourage him to always be focused in a defensive way as well as an offensive way.
“All the players can do better, the coaches too. Always. I’m happy with his behaviour, his commitment with the rest of his team-mates.
“He’s trying to work very hard, trying to understand what we want from him. We’re trying to help him to be better and better. He’s an important player.”
When he was unveiled as David Moyes ’ replacement, Lopetegui said he knew that Paqueta and his family were “suffering” and offered to provide any support required.
Yet the ex-Wolves head coach says he has not felt the need to discuss a difficult few months with the player, adding: “No, he’s managed this in a good way. We try to help him but we don’t talk about this.
“We talk about football, the next match, about life but not about this.”
West Ham host Chelsea having lost their opening two league fixtures at London Stadium. But of greater concern than defeats to Aston Villa and Manchester City is how many shots a revamped back-line is affording opponents.
Three defenders arrived and five departed in the summer, including last season’s captain Kurt Zouma, but no team has conceded more than their 18.25 attempts per game. It is only 0.01 less than the number coughed up when they were last relegated in 2010-11.
And Lopetegui added: “In the Premier League it’s very difficult not to suffer shots. But it’s true that in this way we can improve more. We’re trying to be more compact, more consistent in a defensive way. In the same way, we’re trying to be more active with the ball too.”
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