Lucas Paqueta returns to the West Ham side at Crystal Palace after a torrid few weeks which culminated with an angry blast from David Moyes.
When West Ham went to Bayer Leverkusen looking to stay in the tie things could not have panned out much worse.
The Hammers were missing key duo Edson Alavrez and Jarrod Bowen and they had stars Lucas Paqueta and Emerson Palmieri one booking away from missing the second leg.
Paqueta and Emerson duly picked up bookings as West Ham lost 2-0 away.
And despite a valiant second leg effort, West Ham’s Europa League exit was tinged with regret over what might’ve been had they had their strongest side available for both legs and gone for it a bit more at the BayArena.
The two legs sandwiched a dismal 2-0 home defeat to Fulham and what has to go down as one of Paqueta’s worst performances for the club.
Paqueta puts points on his licence to thrill
Continually giving the ball away, Paqueta was at fault for the killer second goal.
In fairness only Lukasz Fabianski came out of the game with any credit.
But it continued a theme of underwhelming performances from the Brazilian magnifico recently.
With his brainless booking in Europe still fresh in the memory, David Moyes’ public criticism of Paqueta after the Fulham game was notable.
Football can be a fickle beast.
So it was no surprise that some fans claimed the side looked more efficient in attack without Paqueta against Leverkusen at the London Stadium on Thursday night.
That is of course a ridiculous to say that least. Paqueta on his day is one of the best players in the Premier League let alone at West Ham.
Will West Ham see a different Paqueta after Moyes’ angry blast?
And he has not been alone in his below par performances during West Ham’s woeful record of four wins in 21 games in 2024.
He returns to the side today after a full week of rest.
So will West Ham see a different Paqueta after Moyes’ angry blast about the star?
Following the Fulham game, Moyes admitted he found himself questioning why he gives Paqueta more “licence” than his other players when it comes to his use of the ball.
Especially, in the manager’s own words, after it directly “punished” his team in a game they were expected to win in the race for a European place.
“His licence didn’t give us anything and it probably punished us in some ways as well,” Moyes said, as reported by the likes of The Evening Standard.
“In some way there is a little bit of acceptance, but there shouldn’t be, because I wouldn’t accept it from other players.”
Brazil star owes Hammers for run-in
With those words ringing in his ears this week, will we see a different Paqueta at Crystal Palace?
If the Hammers are to have any chance of a top seven finish – which will be rewarded with European football if Man City win the FA Cup – then they must beat Palace.
Paqueta owes West Ham a performance after his poor recent form and childish yellow card which caused him to miss the team’s most important game of the season.
The club and its fans have stood steadfastly by their £51m man amid the allegations facing him. Moyes, much to his own frustration it seems, has also cut him more slack than he does other stars.
West Ham need Paqueta to contribute with goals, assists or key passes in these last few matches.
He must be more economical on the ball and focused.
There’s been suggestions from some fans that Paqueta’s head and heart are already at Man City.
But if he can turn it on for what could be his last five games in the claret and blue then nobody will begrudge him that move for the right money this summer.