September 21st 2024.
West Ham's defeat to Chelsea was a tough pill to swallow for midfielder Guido Rodriguez, who was substituted off in the 38th minute. Manager Julen Lopetegui confirmed that it was a tactical decision, but took full responsibility for the substitution, stating that it was the fault of the coach rather than the player.
The match started off with an impressive performance from Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson, who scored two goals before assisting Cole Palmer for the third goal. Despite their best efforts, West Ham couldn't catch up and ended up suffering their third Premier League loss of the season.
Things took a turn for the worse when Jackson scored his second goal in just 18 minutes, making it the fastest double scored by a Chelsea player in a London derby since Didier Drogba in 2005. As the first half wore on, Lopetegui decided to bring on Tomas Soucek in place of Rodriguez, who joined West Ham on a free transfer from Real Betis in the summer. Understandably, Rodriguez looked disappointed as he made his way off the field.
In his post-match press conference, Lopetegui cleared any doubts about Rodriguez's fitness and took full responsibility for the team's poor performance in the first half. "It was tactical. But when a coach changes a player before half-time, it's not the player's fault, it's the coach's fault, for sure," he told reporters.
Lopetegui went on to explain that it was his role to make decisions and he should have done better by changing a player before half-time. He also acknowledged that it was not only about the player's performance, but also about his own decisions as a coach.
Chelsea's dominant performance led to a disappointing loss for West Ham, leaving Lopetegui "very frustrated" and demanding more consistency from his team. Their next challenge awaits them in the form of a difficult Carabao Cup match against Liverpool on Wednesday night.
"We are very, very frustrated today because we had expectations for the match. We worked hard to prepare for this game," Lopetegui said. "I think I need to review the match again, but it was a very soft way to lose. We suffered two early goals and we should have done better."
The manager also emphasized the need for consistency, especially when playing against top teams like Chelsea. Despite having chances to score, West Ham couldn't capitalize and ultimately conceded three goals.
As the match progressed, there were audible boos and jeers from the fans as Crysencio Summerville was substituted in the second half. Lopetegui acknowledged the fans' frustration and thanked them for their support, but also stated that the team's performance on the field is what truly matters.
In the end, Lopetegui's disappointment and frustration were evident as he analyzed the game and emphasized the importance of consistency in the team's performance. With a challenging match against Chelsea behind them, West Ham must now focus on improving and giving their best in every game.
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