West Ham manager Graham Potter addressed the decision to substitute Mohammed Kudus during the team’s 2-1 victory over Fulham on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. Kudus was replaced by Danny Ings shortly after the hour mark, a move that stirred controversy among supporters who questioned the call to bench the Ghanaian midfielder.
Explaining his rationale, Potter, who was overseeing his first Premier League match as West Ham’s head coach, acknowledged Kudus’ quality but pointed to the player’s struggles during the game.
“We pushed Mohammed Kudus a bit further forward, and he contributed, but it was clear he was finding it difficult out there,” Potter said. “Bringing on Danny Ings gave us better balance. It was a tough choice to make because Mo is a top, top player, but he was really suffering.”
Kudus, in his second season with the Hammers, has faced a challenging campaign. After a stellar debut year, the 24-year-old has scored just three goals in 16 league appearances, falling short of expectations and the form that initially won over the fans.