West Ham’s new manager, Graham Potter, has explained why Mohammed Kudus was substituted during their match against Fulham on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
According to Potter, the midfielder was struggling during the game, which led to the decision to take him off.
Kudus was replaced by Danny Ings just after the 60-minute mark, with West Ham holding a 2-1 lead at the time.
However, many West Ham fans were unhappy with the substitution, arguing that it was unnecessary to take off one of their key players.
Responding to the criticism, Graham Potter, managing his first Premier League game for West Ham, explained the decision.
The former Chelsea manager said Kudus was having a tough time during the match, and he praised Danny Ings for making a positive impact after coming on.
“We moved Mohammed Kudus a little bit higher up, and he helped us. Danny Ings coming on probably gave us more balance, even though it was a tough call because Mo’s a top, top player. But he was really suffering,” Potter said.
Kudus, now in his second season with West Ham, has faced challenges during the 2024/25 campaign. Unlike his impressive debut season, the 24-year-old has struggled for form, managing just three goals in 16 Premier League appearances.