Julen Lopetegui says he understands West Ham United fans’ boos after his side’s 3-0 home defeat by Chelsea.
Two goals from Nicolas Jackson in the first 20 minutes and a third from Cole Palmer shortly after half-time inflicted West Ham’s third defeat of the season. It is also the first time in the club’s history that West Ham have begun a season by losing three consecutive home games, with the London Stadium side conceding eight goals during the run.
Lopetegui, who has won two of his six competitive games since replacing David Moyes as West Ham manager in May, said: “It’s a very frustrating day because we had big expectations for this match. We worked a lot to prepare. I’ll have to review the game but it was a soft way to lose against a team like Chelsea. We suffered two early goals and we have to do better. We weren’t consistent and when you’re not against these types of teams, you’ll only have a few possibilities to win.
“We have to defend much better. When you concede first it makes the match much more difficult. The second goal was more or less the same. We have to improve and these players will do. They will give the fans better moments because they deserve this. Today is a bad day for all of us but we have to look forward and work hard.
“It’s normal (the boos from West Ham fans) because we lost. They have the right to complain and we know this. The only solution to change is to do better and that starts with me.”
GO DEEPER
West Ham have a forwards problem again. Shock. Surprise. Amazement. (Not)
West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen admitted that 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 side’s performance.
Bowen and West Ham struggled against Chelsea (Henry Browne/Getty Images)
“I don’t think we were ever in the game really which is an awful thing to say,” Bowen told TnT Sports. “If we are being honest and looking at the true reflection of the game, I think the goals that they scored were very easy on our part. They were gifts. That’s the thing in this league. You have to be switched on at every moment and they punished us with the first goal. The second goal seemed very easy for them to play through us. It was a disappointing day all round.
“As a player and as captain, you have to lead and rally everyone together. I thought that we gave them too much respect in the end. We weren’t fouling people to let them know that they were in a game and we didn’t get the crowd up today.
“At 2-0, we have a goal disallowed that might have made it a different game. It was a really disappointing day. We accept the defeat. The game is done. We put it to bed. We will watch it back and see what we can improve on. We’ve got Liverpool next and then Brentford. Games are coming thick and fast to put this right.”
Bowen also said he understood why sections of the home support opted to leave the stadium early, adding: “For sure (I understand why fans left early). Being 3-0 down to your local rivals. I totally get it. It is still early in the season and there is still a long way to go but it is about rallying together as a group.
“Everyone is disappointed. Of course, you are when you lose a game. The important thing is now to come in tomorrow and come into the new week with high spirits ready to put it right.”
(Top photo: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
