West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui addressed Mohammed Kudus’s substitution at halftime during the 1-1 draw against Brentford. He clarified that the change was tactical, not due to injury concerns.
Lopetegui’s team secured a well-earned point at the Gtech Community Stadium when Tomas Soucek equalized following Bryan Mbeumo’s early goal for the home team. Despite West Ham’s unbeaten away record in the league this season, they have only secured one victory in their first six matches, prompting Lopetegui to seek solutions early on in his tenure.
Lopetegui believed his team deserved more than a draw, especially considering their more robust second-half performance. “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.
At halftime, Lopetegui made two notable substitutions, replacing Kudus and Emerson with Carlos Soler and Konstantinos Mavropanos. He explained his decision to take off the Ghanaian forward: “It was a tactical decision. We need that. I thought that was better for the team, and we needed these changes.”
Lopetegui quickly dismissed 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.”
Regardless of a challenging season start, West Ham fans are showing unwavering support for Lopetegui and his team. “I have always felt the fans’ support, and today, too, it was very important. We achieved one point and deserved more in the end,” he added.]