West Ham boss demands improvement from Lucas Paqueta ahead of Leeds clash | OneFootball

West Ham United have endured a horrendous start to the season, losing their fourth straight game at the London Stadium over the weekend.

Unsurprisingly, several West Ham players are performing below par and will have to raise their levels in the coming weeks as the Hammers look to escape the relegation zone.

One player who has struggled recently is Lucas Paqueta. The West Ham ace looked like he was back to his best after scoring in three consecutive games earlier in the season.

Unfortunately, his form has tailed off. The Hammers desperately need him to find his groove, and new boss Nuno Espirito Santo has urged him to improve.

Asked whether West Ham must get the best out of Paqueta, Nuno said (via at his WHUFC press conference), “Maybe it’s the other way around, we have to improve Lucas.”

“We have to improve Lucas to get the best out of him. He can do it, but he has to improve because I think we have the pieces to take the best out of Lucas.”

A fit and firing Paqueta can unlock West Ham’s struggling attack.

He can open up space and create chances for other attackers, such as Cryscencio Summerville and Jarrod Bowen.

However, it is worth noting that Nuno’s decision to play Paqueta, who is an ‘incredible talent’, as a striker in the last game completely blunted his impact.

He was left isolated up top, unable to influence the game the way he thrives – linking play and threading passes between the lines.

Paqueta’s magic lies in operating just behind a natural centre-forward, where he can combine with runners like Bowen & Summerville, feeding a striker such as Callum Wilson.

If Nuno wants to get the most out of his creative talisman, he must restore him to that central attacking role.

Hopefully, Paqueta gets the chance to dazzle in his natural position when West Ham face Leeds United on Friday night.