Julen Lopetegui says he understands the boos from West Ham United fans after his team’s 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea.
Two goals from Nicolas Jackson in the first 20 minutes and a third from Cole Palmer shortly after half-time handed West Ham their third defeat of the season. It is also the first time in the club’s history that West Ham have started a season with three consecutive home defeats, with the London Stadium side conceding eight goals in the process.
Lopetegui, who has won two of his six competitive matches since replacing David Moyes as West Ham manager in May, said: “It’s a very frustrating day because we had high expectations for this game. We worked hard to prepare. I have to analyse the game again but it was an easy defeat against a team like Chelsea. We conceded two early goals and we need to do better. We were not consistent and when you don’t play against teams like that you have very few opportunities to win.”
“We need to defend much better. When you concede the first goal, the game becomes much more difficult. The second goal was more or less the same. We need to improve and these players will do that. They will give the fans better moments because they deserve it. Today is a bad day for all of us, but we need to look forward and work hard.”
“It’s normal (the booing from West Ham fans) because we lost. They have the right to complain and we know that. The only solution for change is to do better and that starts with me.”
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West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen admitted his side were “never in the game” against their London rivals. The 27-year-old played the full 90 minutes and was critical of his team’s performance.
Bowen and West Ham struggled against Chelsea (Henry Browne/Getty Images)
“I don’t think we were ever really in the game, which is a terrible thing to say,” Bowen told TnT Sports. “If we’re honest and look at the true reflection of the game, I think the goals they scored were very easy for us. They were gifts.” That’s the problem in this league. You have to be fully present at all times and they punished us with the first goal. The second goal seemed to be very easy for them to score. Overall it was a disappointing day.
“As a player and captain, you have to lead everyone and bring them together. I think we showed them too much respect at the end. We didn’t foul anyone to show them they were in a game and we didn’t rile up the crowd today.”
“We had a goal disallowed at 2-0 which perhaps could have changed the game. It was a really disappointing day. We accept the defeat. The game is over. We’ve put it behind us. We’ll look at it again and see what we can improve. Next we’ve got Liverpool and then Brentford. The games are piling up to put that right.”
Bowen also said he understood why some of the home fans left the stadium early, adding: “Absolutely (I understand why the fans left early). Down 3-0 against the local rivals. I understand that completely. It’s early in the season and there’s still a long way to go, but it’s about sticking together as a group.
“Everyone is disappointed. Of course you are when you lose a game. The most important thing now is to play again tomorrow and start the new week in a good mood to make up for it.”
(Top photo: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
