On Friday night the Irons welcomed Graham Potter’s former club Chelsea to the London Stadium for their first home game of the 2025/26 season.
Following a heavy 3-0 defeat to newly promoted Sunderland, West Ham were hoping to bounce back against Chelsea.
But this was not the case as they were heavily beaten for the second week in a row losing 5-1 after having taken an early lead.
Lucas Paqueta of West Ham United. (Photo by West Ham United FC/West Ham United FC via Getty Images)
After the game, Graham Potter spoke to the media and looked ahead to Tuesday’s EFL Cup tie against Wolves.
‘It was a tough evening for us’
After a winless opening two games to the season Graham Potter gave his general reflection and addressed how the Hammers will try to turn things around.
“It is bitterly disappointing of course with the result, with the manner of the goals.
“I thought they were too cheap, and I think when you do that you give yourself a real challenge in the Premier League and especially against a team with the talent and quality Chelsea have.
“It was a tough evening for us.”
‘We have to do a lot better’
West Ham had gone 1-0 up on the sixth minute with Lucas Paqueta scoring the Irons’ first goal of the season. They also saw a goal ruled out on the 17th minute as there was an offside in the build up to Niclas Füllkrug’s goal. Potter addressed his side’s failure to build on a good start.
Niclas Fullkrug of West Ham. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
“I think we probably set the tone with the first goal.
“Then fine margins we are unlucky not to get 2-1 up. We scored a good goal, good reaction from the players.
“Then again, the second goal is a poor goal from our perspective.
“We have to do a lot better than that and I think the players would be honest enough to say that we have to do better.
“Then once you are behind in the game you are caught between going after them and putting some pressure on and at the same time getting played through because of the quality they have. But nevertheless, I thought we can say what we want when you concede the goals, we did it makes the game impossible.”
‘There is no point pointing fingers’
Furthermore, the former Brighton manager addressed the work his team put in to prepare for games and that they do not go out there to not compete or react quickly. He also spoke on his frustration when his instructions to players can not be put into action.
“It can happen in football of course it can.
“Goals happen and we are in a moment where the week we have had has been a really difficult week. There is no getting away from that.
“So psychologically we have got some challenges. We have to work.
“We have got a game on Tuesday which I think is good for us. We need to prepare and move forward to that.
“We have to stick together. There is no point me pointing fingers and all that stuff collectively we were not good enough today we have to take that responsibility together and move forward and work harder.”
‘We have let them down’
The 50-year-old gave his thoughts on external noise and the general comments and emotions of fans. He discussed a feeling of pressure and that the team must go again from 0-0 at Wolves.
“Of course, you know that is life. We have to dust ourselves down.
“No one is going to feel sorry for us and they should not do. We know today was not good enough.
Jarrod Bowen of West Ham United. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
“We know today we need to do better, and we have to make sure we are ready to play Wolves. It is as simple as that. But no, we are disappointed today.
“Of course, we are bitterly disappointed because the fans were there with us and we have let them down in terms of the goals we have conceded and the result we have given.”
‘We cannot feel sorry for ourselves’
The Hammers manager was asked about enjoying being a part of the sport he loves and it being difficult and upsetting after a result like that.
“No, I am upset. This is my life this is my career.
“I have got a family and kids. I am a normal person just like you.
“I know supporters obviously they are gutted after a game like this, but I can assure you we are all feeling the same. But that is sport, that is sport at the highest level.
“We cannot feel sorry for ourselves we have to dust ourselves down and go again. It is as simple as that.”
‘We are in pain because we have lost the game heavily in front of our supporters’
Potter addressed how it was to hand Callum Wilson another 45 minutes and debuts to Kyle Walker-Peters and Freddie Potts and that Tuesday is another chance for players to impress.
“Yeah absolutely. That is what we have to think about as well.
“Malick, (El Hadji Malick Diouf), making his home debut I thought kept going worked to the end some good character there. But it is difficult to speak about positives at the moment.
El Hadji Malick Diouf. (Photo by West Ham United FC/West Ham United FC via Getty Images)
“We are hurting, and we are in pain because we have lost the game, and we have lost the game heavily at home in front of our supporters.
“So, we are licking our wounds, and we are trying to piece it all together and getting ready to move forwards.”
‘We need to improve the players we have’
Finally, he addressed the requirements of the club in remaining ten days of the transfer window speaking about incomings and outgoings that could be pivotal.
“Absolutely yeah it is going to be a busy few days.
“We need to work hard and we need to try our best to improve and we need to improve the players we have and try to look for players that can help us as well from the outside.