Julen Lopetegui plans to have a stern discussion with Mohammed Kudus after his unprofessional actions on the pitch earned him a red card during a 4-1 defeat to Tottenham. The Ghanaian international let his temper get the better of him in the 86th minute of the game, which led to his early dismissal.
Kudus lost control of his emotions, an unusual sight for teammates and fans alike, when he needlessly lashed out and struck both Micky van de Ven and Pape Sarr in the face, in a moment that could cost his team dearly in the long run.
Lopetegui and the rest of the coaching staff will likely highlight to Kudus that such outbursts will not be tolerated on the field, with the midfielder putting his own team at risk of losing more crucial matches if he doesn't maintain self-discipline during heated interactions.
Impact on the Team: Will This Spark Negative Repercussions?
The red card might already be causing concern about the potential outcomes for the team in upcoming matches. Given that the 4-1 loss at the hands of Tottenham might already have caused setbacks to their overall performance, relying on other teammates to make up for Kudus' loss will be difficult, but hopefully not impossible.
Bright spots from the team might come from key team players stepping up and performing incredibly well, showcasing a level of determination and spirit needed to bring home matches with reduced team numbers.
However, regardless of Kudus' disciplinary issues, Lopetegui must attempt to rally the rest of the players around their teammates in these trying times, ensuring that the bad results stop snowballing into more significant setbacks that impact the team as the season wears on.