West Ham manager Graham Potter admitted he is “under pressure” following a 5–1 home defeat to Chelsea, which leaves the Hammers bottom of the Premier League after back-to-back heavy losses.
Potter’s side were taken apart by crosses and corners as Chelsea ran riot at the London Stadium, with João Pedro, Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah all on the scoresheet. Lucas Paquetá’s early strike briefly gave West Ham hope, but defensive lapses and goalkeeping errors from Mads Hermansen compounded their misery.
The boos at full-time summed up the mood, with supporters clashing with stewards after a pitch invader briefly halted play. Captain Jarrod Bowen later described himself as “fuming,” urging his teammates to take responsibility for a dismal start to the season.
Potter: “I Accept Responsibility”
The West Ham boss was honest about the growing scrutiny he faces.
“You are under pressure all the time in these jobs. I know the territory, I know what comes with poor results and I accept that responsibility. It was too easy to score against us, and I have to do better. That is the case with all the players too — they are honest and want to do more.” — Graham Potter
Potter stressed that the players care and are “desperate to do well,” but admitted the team has “had a smash on the nose” after conceding eight goals in their last two outings.
Bowen: “We’re Not Doing Basic Football Well Enough”
Skipper Jarrod Bowen didn’t hold back in his post-match reaction.
“[I’m feeling] all the emotions that come with conceding eight goals in two games and not picking up a point. We have to look at ourselves… We are not doing basic football well enough, I can tell you that, because we’ve conceded eight goals in two games.” — Jarrod Bowen to Sky Sports
The captain insisted the players, not the manager, must carry the blame: “The manager has come in, but it’s the players on the pitch — he can’t influence it.”
West Ham – 2025/26 Premier League Snapshot
Stat (last 2 games) | West Ham |
---|---|
Goals Conceded | 8 |
Points Collected | 0 |
Shots Faced | 32 |
Errors Leading to Goals | 3 |
Current League Position | 20th |
source: Premier League match data – 22 August 2025
West Ham’s defensive numbers are alarming — eight goals conceded, three direct errors leading to goals, and no points collected leave them rooted to the bottom after just two fixtures.
nalyst Verdict
This is a nightmare start for Potter. While the defensive frailties can partly be attributed to a new goalkeeper settling in, the lack of structure at set-pieces and open play exposes a wider tactical problem. The bluntness of Bowen’s words reflect a dressing room searching for answers.
If West Ham continue to leak goals at this rate, the pressure on Potter could become unsustainable before the autumn. The honesty from both manager and captain is welcome, but results must change fast.
Key Insights
- Graham Potter admits he is “under pressure” after 5–1 defeat to Chelsea
- West Ham have conceded eight goals in two games, sit bottom of the Premier League
- Jarrod Bowen calls himself “fuming” and says players failing at “basic football”
- All Chelsea goals came from crosses or corners, exposing defensive flaws
- Fans booed team off and unrest grew at London Stadium
What’s Next
West Ham face Nottingham Forest next in the Premier League— a fixture that now carries added weight for Potter’s future. A third straight defeat would deepen the crisis and test the board’s patience.
For Bowen and the squad, the challenge is mental as much as tactical: rediscover basic defensive organisation and avoid the errors that Chelsea so brutally punished.
Is Graham Potter already on borrowed time at West Ham — or should the players carry the blame for their disastrous start?
1 Comment (last comment by Adem)
First read message
By Adem 23 Aug 2025 08:14
Feel sorry for the lad, seems to be a good person, but just a bad manager. Maybe if Nuno gets the sack West Ham should go for him.
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