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‘Out for three matches’ – West Ham confirm huge squad blow ahead of Manchester United fixture
West Ham will be without their star player, Mohammed Kudus, for their match against Manchester United this weekend.
United played to a 1-1 draw with Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday and will visit the London Stadium on Sunday to face a struggling West Ham side. The Hammers, expected to improve this season under Julen Lopetegui, currently sit 15th in the Premier League with just two wins.
Things have worsened for West Ham as Kudus will miss the game due to a three-match ban for violent conduct following his red card against Tottenham last weekend.
Kudus, who played under Erik ten Hag at Ajax, has become one of the league’s top wingers since joining West Ham for €45 million (£38m) in the summer of 2023. He scored against United in their 2-0 victory at the London Stadium last December, but won’t be available for the upcoming match.
“Unfortunately, Kudus will be out for three matches due to his poor behavior, and he knows that. It’s unfortunate because he played well and could have scored twice,” said Lopetegui.
“He needs to learn to manage his frustration. He’s young, and while we’re all disappointed, I hope this is the last time we face such an issue. The best way for him to channel his frustration is to work harder and stay focused during the game. I’m confident it won’t happen again.”
When asked about the uncertainty surrounding Ten Hag’s position, Lopetegui chose not to elaborate but acknowledged that United has a clear style of play and identity.
“All good coaches face pressure at times, depending on their results, but I won’t comment on my colleague or his club,” he said. “I can only focus on myself. We need to prepare to face a very strong team; Manchester United is among the best in the world, and we must be ready to perform well. They have a distinct way of playing, both in attack and defense.”
