Julen Lopetegui sends Mohammed Kudus warning as talks held after West Ham meltdown

West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui has warned Mohammed Kudus following his red card against Tottenham last weekend.

The Ghana forward was given his marching orders for pushing Spurs stars Pape Matar Sarr and Micky van de Ven during the dying embers of his side’s 4-1 defeat.

Kudus, who is duly suspended for the visit of Manchester United on Sunday, has been charged by the FA for “allegedly acting in an improper manner and/or used violent conduct after the offence he was sent off for”.

Lopetegui confirmed he had held talks with his player and warned such an incident cannot be repeated.

“Unfortunately Kudus is going to be out for three matches because his behaviour was not good and he knows that,” he said on Friday.

“He knows he has to improve because this can't happen. I hope it's the last time this happens. I'm sure it is not going to happen [again].

"I talked with him and sometimes you don't have to talk a lot about this kind of situation because he knows it was a mistake. I say, for sure, that he will learn about this incident and his behaviour will handle this better in the future."

Lopetegui has dismissed the pressure surrounding his current position, saying it is part and parcel of being a coach.

The former Wolves boss arrived at the London Stadium in the summer to much fanfare, and was heavily backed in the transfer window, but has experienced a very difficult start with the Irons.

The poor results and performances - 15 goals have been conceded in the league - have led to early questions over the Spaniard’s future at the club, but Lopetegui is confident things will soon turn around for his side.

Speaking ahead of their home clash with the Red Devils the West Ham boss said: "When you become a coach, you live with pressure always. it's that kind of life. About us, we didn't have the best start or start we wanted to have, but we are sure we are taking steps to arrive at the end of the season in the position we want to be.

“I believe a lot in these players and I am sure the results we desire will arrive. The only way is to work hard and try to silence the critics by improving, and this is the way we work."

West Ham currently sit in 15th place in the Premier League heading into the weekend, but have a good recent record against Erik ten Hag’s equally underperforming side, winning the last two fixtures at the London Stadium without conceding a goal.