Hapless Hammers implode as heat on Graham Potter intensifies

0:06You're listening to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. Welcome along. East London met West London on Friday night football as West Ham took on Chelsea at the London Stadium. Here's how things sounded at full time.

0:26Chelsea, Cruz and West Ham with more worries as they are thumped on home soil tonight in this London derby for Graham Potter's side it was a sorry performance really and a sparkling one for Chelsea despite the fact that Lucas Pacatapa West Ham in front with a brilliant goal but a goal that was quickly forgotten by a rampant Chelsea performance. Five different scorers for the Blues, João Pedro, Pedro Neto, Neto Fernandes, Moises Caicedo and Trevor Chalabert getting in on the act. And Chelsea will hope this is more of a sign of what's to come from them as they hope to challenge for the title for West Ham United.

1:20Is this set to be a fight to beat the drop? We will see. But in the end they've been well beaten. Esteváuer starry performance as well. The final score of the London Stadium. The champions of the world have thunked West Ham United who lose by five goals to one. And the faces of the West Ham fans say it all, but Enzo Maresca is going around each and every one of those Chelsea players who this evening, Rob Green, have been ruthless. us they've been at their brilliant best and we saw it in glimpses in the summer they got given the freedom the space they've got a start in the making in estaville everything that they went after they conceded such a response such an emphatic way to answer any doubts that any of the fans here had anything from last week brilliant performance there are so many things aren't there jamie that actually you could highlight and praise chelsea for and alan gave best of our man of the match and you wouldn't argue that but you could pick out positives in every single Chelsea player as they walk past us every one of them just saying this I was just thinking it myself you're going to name any Chelsea player as the man of the match today they were fabulous in every aspect of the game and especially when you think they lost Cole Palmer before the game they were a bit rattled first few minutes go one nil down but they stayed calm they stayed composed and the quality they possessed I said at half time they look like a big team they look like team they're going to compete this season defensively they didn't have a real problem and i thought there were a lot of impressive performances they were excellent today they were aggressive they got after the ball kaisedo's an absolute monster in midfield for them and it was a really really emphatic win really big one and it's someone like if we just saw xan pedro there they have several players he's got four in five now in all competitions but they've got several players who appear to have hit the ground running having only recently joined the club and that's what they've identified the event if identified player the maresca's identified players that could say i've got this system not only that you've got to have the intelligence to play within that system off the ball as when as on you've got to understand where to move and when to move and they have that right now and those players and you they had to shuffle it as james said just before kickoff but it was seamless yeah it looks like a really enjoyable game as well for him once they got calm and composed and then they got back into the game there was only ever going to be one winner they've got a lot of class in their team and you can see that the confidence they've got from being you know the club from the club world cup is making a massive difference hey mark well done congratulations mark kukerera is joining us come in the middle between us that felt like a not far off perfect performance from you team Yeah, we are very happy.

4:17I think in the last game we missed something. I think we don't play our style but I think today it's true that at the beginning we start a little bit sloppy. We can see the early goal but I think the reaction from the team was very good. We show that we have a lot of energy. We want to play a good football and we have a good result tonight. How difficult is it for you as a group of players when you lose a player in the warm-up and have to make a change before the match starts? Yeah, it was difficult because we practice one thing, at the end we need to change very fast, but I think Esteveu in this case, they play an amazing game.

4:55I think it's very important because we have a good squad. All of us, we are ready at any time and we are very happy because we show that we have a top team. And you saw him in the summer against Chelsea. You saw him last week as a substitute. Today, he had to be thrown in Esteveu. how pleased were you with how he performed and how good can he be? Yeah, for sure. I think he's very young, but he showed that he's very mature. He made good decisions and I think this is a good thing. I think all the new players, all the signs, they came here to help the team, to bring something good, good energy, good talent.

5:33So I think we have an amazing squad and hopefully we can do good things this season. I want to take you back to the first goal, Mark. You had a massive involvement in it with a set piece. You go short first of all, I don't know if we're about to see it on the monitor. You see you go to get it short and then you just back off and then you get in front of Paquetta for the flicker. Was that something you've worked on or you're not going to give us it away? No, we are working on this. I think we start to practice in the Club World Cup and we continue practicing. I think we improved a little bit. Today I think we scored three goals from corners.

6:04So I think this is a part of the game. I think it was an important moment because we are a bit nervous So we lose a bit of confidence because we can see the early goal, but this moment I think changed the game And we are very happy because set pieces are important part of the game. And when you score you do the penguin But not an assist. No, no penguin for an assist. No, no, I think Today I I think we have Five different angles to score. So it was very good. I think this is important all of us. We need to do our job everyone is important, can score, so hopefully we continue in this way because today we have amazing three points.

6:43Just a final one, just on the Club World Cup, obviously it helps you psychologically because you won it, but it meant that you did your summer a bit differently. Some players arrive to play in that, then you get the break, then you don't have very many pre-season friendlies and you start the season. Has it helped in some ways because you got some players in early? Well, yeah, I think it was a bit different, but I think the impact for the new players, I think João Pedro arrived and he brings a lot of energy, a lot of quality. He was a top player for us and I think it was different, but we need to be ready.

7:13I think we are young, we have a lot of energy and hopefully we can do a good season. Thank you very much for joining us. Congratulations. Thank you. And that is a very impressive win for Chelsea, who have won here at the London Stadium by five goals to one. And he heads back into the changing room. We'll hear from his manager a little bit later on and we will hear from Graham Potter. as well. The second weekend then of the Premier League season is very much up and running and there is plenty more coming your way. Saturday night football is Arsenal against Leeds and that will follow on from the lunchtime game of Manchester City against Tottenham and three intriguing games at three o 'clock.

7:53Wolves go to Bournemouth, Brentford who didn't have a great start at the weekend or at home to Villa and the two promoter sides or two of the promoter sides beat at Turf Moor as Burnley play Sunderland. All two o 'clock games live on Sky this season. You may have seen Nottingham Forest today. Bizarre stuff coming out of there. A breakdown in the relationship between Nuno, he says, and some of the club's hierarchy. Some reports doubting whether he'll even be in charge for that game at Selhurst Park. That will be a story that will develop. Everton have their first game in their new home, first league game in their new home against Brighton.

8:28And the final game on Sunday is Fulham against Manchester United. before a cracker on Monday night, all the build-up from half six on Monday night football for Newcastle against Liverpool.

8:44Some of the stats from tonight may surprise you, particularly the shots. Both sides having the same number of shots. Chelsea now having expected goals of just shy of three, whereas West Ham were under one. Chelsea dominating the possession as well. 30 more passes in the final third as well. And sometimes pictures say more than any words can.

9:22just disappointment and misery all round the london stadium and it's it's hard i mean maybe not if you're a chelsea fan or a tottenham fan maybe but it's hard not to feel sympathy for the west ham fans inside here because it was it was miserable wasn't it yeah it was palpable The atmosphere, the defeat had hit them so early in the game and they just had to sit and suffer and take what was coming. And that's more of the same, more of what they had towards last season. And so you're looking at the manner of their feet, the manner of how they conceded the goals, and it's such a painful watch. You highlighted on those stats they didn't have one booking.

10:05I don't remember a tackle. I don't remember really a tackle in that. Egar getting tight for the goal. They scored. Then from about it, the pitch just seemed huge. It's a vast area to cover. It was made bigger by Chelsea. It was made bigger by the lack of energy in the West Ham side. Absolutely. I think that's the most damning statistic there. You've got to make tackles. You've got to make challenges. You've got to get after people. It was miles too easy for Chelsea. That's eight goals in two games they've conceded. I look at that squad, and I know we're only two games in, but that's a squad that's going to be a relegation fight unless they give some help to the manager.

10:42They need four, five, six new signings because it's not like for Graham Potter now. He can look at that squad and go, all right, well, I'm going to change four or five players. It's going to make a massive difference. It won't. They haven't got the quality. You only look at really Paquetta or Bowen, someone who's going to do something different. Callum Wilson obviously is going to have an impact this season. But defensively today, I've seen some defending in my life. That was as bad as it gets. I highlighted Taddebo. I highlighted Wan-Bissaka at half-time, defending the back post with a bit of desire, a bit of know-how, checking your shoulder, making sure you're in a good position to defend.

11:15It was so poor. It was unbelievably poor. By the time it got to three and we got to the second half, did you feel like half that defence didn't know whether they were coming or going? Confidence is low. Let's be totally honest. But I know it sounds like the two games, the goalkeeper doesn't make it any easier. He's having a really difficult time. You know, he comes out, he flaps at one, you know, just after half-time. He probably needs to be changed because he's not come here full of confidence. He's already made some high-profile mistakes live on a Friday night on Sky. He's not going to help his cause.

11:43It's a hell of a call that to change your goalkeeper after two games, isn't it? But it might, but Arreola might have to, at least he's got some experience. Right now, I look at him and I think he needs a little bit of a rest. He's already conceding so many goals, eight goals in two games. He's got some high-profile games coming up here. He's not in a, I personally, you know, he doesn't fill the goal or doesn't fill him with any confidence right now. Now, as a goalkeeper, Rob, I mean, do you think I'm being too harsh? Well, you look at it and you look across the board and not to deflect away from the goalkeeper situation, but add to it, you're coming up against Chelsea.

12:13You're in the Premier League. Get the basics right. They conceded three from corners, three set pieces, conceded two soft goals in terms of how the crosses came in last week. They're just not giving themselves a chance. And at the moment, the goalkeeper's in with that as well. You're having to play a perfect game defensively because you're not going to score many because you've not got that many outlets. it's so far from it. It's different though, isn't it? If Tadibo doesn't play, I'm just picking one of the centre-halves here because he was pulled at half-time. If Tadibo doesn't play in their next game, that's one thing because outfield players do get changed.

12:48If your goalkeeper changes, it is different, isn't it? He needs results. Graham's got to make big decisions because if you look at the eight goals that they've conceded, he's been at fault for quite a few of them. and it's the same situation at Leicester last year. And I'm not saying he can't be a good goalkeeper and he can't be a success, but sometimes you've got to look at the situation and actually do someone a favour. Now, there's a lot of players. I'm not just picking on him. I could pick on Wan-Bissaka. Some of the goals he was certainly at fault for. Tadibo at half-time. The winning challenges, headers, every single set piece that come into the box, it was a Chelsea head that was going to get it.

13:23And it wasn't like West Ham were a small side today. He brought in Suchek to give him a little bit more aerial dominance. He made no difference. There wasn't enough desire to win first ball, second contact. and that's pretty much summed up West Ham today. I go back to what we said before the start of the game. Played one game in pre-season, Hermanson. He had been injured for the five games towards the end of the season. Hadn't played since April in one game and has been thrown in and it's been a lot to ask him. Going to get some reaction now from the West Ham side of things. Captain Jarrod Bowen with David Craig.

13:54Jarrod, first of all, thank you for shouldering your responsibility as captain and coming out. These moments are always very difficult for everybody involved with the club. Can you just talk us through those emotions from your perspective at this moment? I think you can probably imagine. Fuming, disappointing. All the emotions that come with being on the back of conceding eight goals in two games and not picking up a point yet. I think we got ourselves into a really good position at 1-0. I just thought the goals were really cheap on our behalf. We didn't really make them work for a load. three from set pieces which we've always prided ourselves over the years and a couple more finishes inside the six yard box.

14:37So I think we kind of gifted the goals away and you do that against any opposition. We learnt that at Sunderland last week and we've learnt again tonight. You mentioned those lessons at Sunderland and then again you're repeating the same mistakes tonight. What does that come down to, Jared? Is that collective responsibility? Is it individual responsibility? How does it pan out? It's a collective. We're out there on the pitch and when things are going well, it's easy to get individual awards and what have you. But I think when things aren't going so well, you have to point the finger at every single person because we're out there on the pitch.

15:10It's not defenders defending well enough. It's not midfielders. It's strikers as well, maybe not pressing as well as we know that we can do. So I think it's definitely a hole. I don't think it's, especially in a moment like this, to be individually and pointing fingers. we have to all look at ourselves, take the responsibility of where we are right now. You talk about pointing fingers, clearly the manager, managers always come under pressure after results like this, but is this something that the players need to sort out amongst yourselves? Is it one of those moments where you lock yourselves in the dressing room, away from the coaching staff and have some honest dialogue?

15:45I think we have to, we have to look at ourselves, because ultimately managers come in, but the players are out there playing on the pitch, the manager can't influence that, that's down to us, you have a plan but football has always been football, it's keep the ball out of your net and score in the other net and basic football I don't think we're doing very well enough, I can tell you that because we've conceded eight in two so we have to look at ourselves, we're the ones playing out there, obviously myself as captain I'm firstly fuming with the first couple of weeks and I share that responsibility and that's down to me to get a reaction out of everyone.

16:22Jared, as always, you're very honest. And listen, there's no doubt there's ability in this West Ham team. You're clearly one of those people that possesses it. When fans hear you talk about the basics, they'll be worried. From a player's perspective, why can't basics be done sometimes? I mean, ultimately talking about the fans, the fans probably don't want to see me out here speaking about different things. They want to see it on the pitch. And I agree with that. I want to see it on the pitch as well. but you look at basics and you get yourself into a great position in the game you feel like I think the first goal came from I think Nyev stepped in and pressed and we got pressed really well and like I said then they get a goal from a set piece which is okay then we get a goal and it gets disallowed but then I think they went 2-1 up after about 17 minutes so there's still a long, long way to go so in those difficult moments you still have to just know that you're still in the game stay in the game and this is the Premier League you're going to have those moments where you're under pressure but you're also going to have your moments where you're going to have the play as well.

17:19But when you concede five goals, that whole thing is out the window. Then it's, you know, don't be embarrassed, you know, conceding six, seven, eight. Just finally, time now between now and the next game. What has to happen? I think everyone's got to look in the mirror. Brutally honest, I think everyone has to. I think when you're sat in this position that we're doing, you have to look at yourself in the mirror, have some honest conversations with yourself, have some honest conversations as a group, which will be happening. and we have a cup game on Tuesday night which is full focus to that because that's an opportunity for having a good cup run as well which I think you always look forward to and then we go to Nottingham Forest a week Sunday before the international break so that international break can be a long dark place if you're going into it three defeats in a row so we have to have a reaction, we know that I know that and now we have to face the music which will come over the next few days we have to be brave to deal with that and then ultimately we have to look at ourselves and put it right on the pitch, that's the only way this is going to change Jared we really appreciate you coming out thank you he's quietly annoyed isn't he, if you're Graham Potter what are you doing now?

18:30reading the right acts it's just so far from good enough and Jared you can see it's pretty sombre but internally absolutely raging and you just look and he's right. The goals they concede, how they've gone about it, the energy that's not there in the side and already you're going to be worried. You're going to be worried in the side. You're going to be worried about how the fans are going to respond in the next game and it's such a long time. It's such a long time to wait. It feels like, yeah, Tuesday's coming, Tuesday's coming. You've got to sit and we'll live through this for the next few days and it is a brutal experience and for Graham Potter, it's going to be even longer.

19:11yeah I'm not sure I see him as that sort of guide I don't see him as a sandwich thrower or throwing the teacups or anything like that he's just going to be like okay we've got to find a way we've got to pick ourselves up we're gonna have to work hard in training but I think he's got to have some dialogue with the owners here he needs help I find Sunderland Burnley leads I'm looking at West Ham tonight and thinking they're the ones they're the they're the weakest in the Premier League that we might be out of catch now it hasn't happened over the last few years the three teams that have come up have normally gone down.

19:39But I look at the three teams, they should be looking at West Ham and going, right, we're going to be after you this year because the confidence is so low. And we're talking two games into the season. I know you can sound like it's crazy, but it's not just the performance. You just get a feeling, don't you? You get a feeling and I look at the squad and the manager's maybe not coming in with an abundance of confidence. There's not a lot of belief with him either right now. We're here. But I also have an element of sympathy. When I look at the goals and I look at the defending, I think, what can you do with that?

20:06It's possible. What about when you, and we've mentioned this all evening, what about when you look at the business, okay, and the transfer business they've done? I mean, it's probably not a fair comparison with their opponents today who've spent the best part of£270 million, but admittedly have brought in£230 million. That is the gulf in what West Ham have done compared to what Chelsea have done. And the Tadibo one was already pre-agree because there was the obligation to buy. So it's two wing-backs, a goalkeeper, and a striker on the three from Newcastle. Yeah, and I didn't really... I wasn't a massive fan of Taddebo on a loan, let alone buying him for£35 million.

20:47And then you obviously get rid of Kudus, who's one of your X-factors here. Of course, you have to give Dioff a bit of time. He's got to get used to the Premier League. So that was one we have to be reserved on. Hermanson's had a really difficult start. And hopefully he gets better and things start to improve. But Kyle Walker-Peters and a free transfer. Callum Wilson, I think, is a really good free transfer. But when I look at the players there, who's going to get you off the edge of your seat? Who's going to do something? Who's going to light the spark? And that's what's really a major problem when I look at that squad.

21:16I know, actually, you look at the outs more than the ins. Yeah, and I look off the pitch as well as on it, and you look at the guys who've walked away from here, Danny Ings, Soufal, Fabianski, guys who weren't going to play every week, Antonio. But they were part of a successful team here, and they were part of what made the dressing room tick. And you need that. And right now you're looking around and going, Gerard Bowen, one. Where are the leaders other than that? You're looking around the game, you're looking around the dressing room, and it feels like there's not that drive there. And it's a horrible thing to say.

21:47It's a horrible thing to say about a dressing room. You just don't feel like there's the nastiness in there to turn it around. Here is Graham Potter with David. Graham, obviously a very difficult evening for you. Can we just start with your views and thoughts on that 90 plus minutes? Tough evening for us, of course. Bitterly disappointed with the results, with the manner of the goals we concede after starting the game well. Too cheap, I think, against a top team. We have to say that. To concede the goals in the manner we have is an impossible task. You had the best possible start for the night.

22:30you are playing one of the top teams in the world at this moment in time but given that start should you have gone on and gained a stronger foothold in the game? Well of course that's what we've tried to do as I said goals change games goals affect things too much and when they're cheap like the ones we gave away we have to do better and until you can solve that better it's always difficult in a Premier League game, especially against a top team. We have to improve a lot. You spoke during the week after the Sunland defeat about people doing the right things, doing the basics, there's a lot being spoken about that.

23:11Was that missing again tonight, that ability to do the simple things? Well, I think you're asking the question because you know the answer.

23:23Like I said, we're playing against a top team and at times you're going to have to suffer, which of course you do. When you can see the goals in the manner we have, it makes it difficult. The timing of them as well. We were a little bit unlucky with this obviously getting their offside goal. Find margins again, but nevertheless over the course of the game, you put yourself in a position where if you open up too much and press too much, you can get passed through. but at the same time we're at home and we need to create some pressure and try to get on the front foot and create some mistakes so it was a tough evening for us.

23:59As a coach how do you set about solving those problems with that deck of cards that you have to deal with at this moment? Is it solvable? Well of course we've got a game on Tuesday night which gives us a chance to look at maybe players that haven't played so far and it gives us a chance to look at different players to give them an opportunity because clearly what we're doing at the moment isn't enough. I have to look at myself, we all have to look at each other and see how we can improve. It's honest to me to say you have to look at yourself, in what aspect do you believe that you have to evaluate your performance at this moment in time?

24:39Well I'm the head coach, I'm responsible for the team. At the moment the team isn't performing as well as we'd like and the results aren't what we want so I have to take that responsibility. We're not getting the most out of the players, we need to get more, we have to get more out of the players and that's my job. When you say you're not getting the most out of the players, is that a case of them not believing in what you're asking them to do or not believing in themselves? Gerard Bowen's been in here and been very honest and says they as individuals, every one of them need to look at themselves this evening?

25:12Well, I think it's a collective. I think as much as it's nice to point fingers and blame people, which is obvious because we're hurting and we're disappointed and we're angry with the result, of course we are. We're all responsible. We all have to do better. There's nobody throwing anybody under the bus here. It's a collective effort. We have to do better. Is it something that's sorted out in terms of team meetings or is it sorted out on the training ground? A bit of both, to be honest. Tonight also, we witnessed the unsavoury side of the game. I saw you have to suffer some really vile abuse as you walked down the tunnel.

25:48You're a very measured man, doesn't really show motion either way, whether it's going well or it's going badly. But I think for any human being to have to listen to that sort of abuse must cause some hurt. How are your emotions and your feelings personally when you have to listen to that? Well, I'm disappointed with the performance of the team. I can't control what people say or do from the outside. Everybody's entitled to their opinions. I understand that. I respect that. I've got to do better. We have to do better. And we have to take that responsibility. Have to do better. Do you, to achieve that, need help?