West Ham ended their Premier League Summer Series campaign with a 2-0 win against AFC Bournemouth, despite being second-best for large parts of the game.
After facing Manchester United in New Jersey and Everton in Chicago over the last week, the Hammers wrapped up their tour of the United States in Atlanta, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The East London club faced a Bournemouth side who came into the game off the back of a heavy 4-1 defeat to Manchester United. Even so, the Cherries had already picked up a win in their first game when they comfortably beat Everton 4-1.
Bournemouth dominated the early stages of the game and somehow didn’t find themselves ahead when Marcus Tavernier’s cross was turned onto the post by Evanilson from a few yards out.
Despite the early domination, it was West Ham who took the lead when Jarrod Bowen squared the ball to German international Niclas Füllkrug, and he made no mistake from close range.
The Cherries almost hit back instantly, when Illia Zabarnyi’s header smashed off the underside of the bar from six yards out, but West Ham managed to go into the break ahead.
Much like the first half, Bournemouth started the brighter of the two sides. For the third time in the game, the South Coast club struck the woodwork — this time when West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola’s clearance was blocked by Evanilson, sending the ball thundering off the outside of the post.
West Ham then doubled their lead, again against the run of play. El Hadji Malick Diouf’s pinpoint, whipped cross found Bowen, who steered the ball into the far corner.
The Hammers managed to see out the result despite a late flurry of chances from Bournemouth. With the result, it meant West Ham finished 2nd in the Summer Series, after two wins and one defeat.
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"Really happy with the environment, really happy with the culture at the moment."
After the game, West Ham Head Coach Graham Potter spoke on the result as well as pre-season in general.
“Always nice to win, I think regardless of the result we have had a really positive four weeks, two weeks here in the US, a week in Germany and some time at Rush Green.
“The team has really connected, a lot of togetherness in the group, really happy with the environment, really happy with the culture at the moment.
“We rode our luck a little bit tonight I think but at the same time scored some good goals, got better in the second half, so lots to be positive about.”
West Ham played three games whilst out in the States, facing the likes of Manchester United, Everton and AFC Bournemouth. During those three games there has been visible improvement.
“We taken a step on from a tactical perspective, some of the challenges we will face through the season, we have had good exposure to that with the games.
“Training has been good with the players, so I think physically we have taken a step on and just by being together a long time, I think we’re more connected, more together as well, which has been really positive.”
Many players impressed for West Ham on Sunday with Bowen and Füllkrug on target, as well as who Diouf provided two world class crosses for both goals.
“Forwards scoring, defenders keeping clean sheets, Malick [Diouf] was positive in terms of his deliveries, his crossed were really good, so as I said lots of positives but always things to improve,” said Potter.
With the Premier League season fast approaching, West Ham have one more pre-season game before the face Sunderland on the opening weekend. They will welcome French side Lille to the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
“We have to recover from the journey, then a few days training before an important weekend for us and then everyday we are getting closer to where it all matters.”
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“I will continue to give them this type of cross, and I think they will score a lot of goals like that.”
Diouf was awarded Player of the Match for his performance against Bournemouth after picking up one assist and impressing in general. He commented on the team’s performance.
“We played against a good team in Bournemouth, they keep the ball, and they play very good football but, in the end, we have the victory, so I think that’s the important thing to prepare for the season.
“We played three games, every game in different, todays was a really tough game, but we had a good mentality today.
“I think it should be Jaz [Bowen for POTM] because he scored and assisted.”
When Diouf joined West Ham, many people said to look out for his crossing of the ball and how good he is at it.
“I think it is my power because we have two good strikers, so every time they are ready to get this type of ball, I will continue to give them this type of cross, and I think they will score a lot of goals like that.”
Having only joined a few weeks ago, Diouf has only had a part of the Germany trip and the trip to America to integrate himself into the team as well as meet the fans. Whilst out in the States, the Hammers have had to play in a variety of different weather conditions.
“It is really good to come here [USA] to meet our fans, I’ve enjoyed the sun a little bit but sometimes it has been crazy, now we are going to London and that will be different weather.
“We have a good family here, I really like the dressing room, we are really close each player, we are really close to the start of the season, so we need everyone to be close, like a good family.”
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“I can definitely feel a change in and around the place and I think you can see that in the games.”
Bowen has impressed in pre-season, scoring two goals and picking up two assists in the four games the Hammers have played. After the game he spoke on the performance but also how there is a better feel in and around the club going into the new season.
“A great nights work, a difficult game, it wasn’t perfect at times but in pre-season I don’t think there is ever going to be the optimal level you want it to be but a good bit of character, we rode our luck at times which in Premier League you do that as well, but we came out of it with a win so a good nights work.
“Definitely a different role for me [playing upfront in a two] but I think it’s been good for me to have two 90 minute games and 45 minutes in the position, said Bowen.
“Ultimately it’s not learning a new position but it’s different to what I’m used to, but I’ve just been trying to do as much as I can out there, been linking up really well with Fulle [Füllkrug] and got a couple of goals, so I think in pre-season you always want to start where you left off.”
Throughout his career, the England international has normally played out on the right but over the last few seasons he has slowly progressed into a striker.
“In my early days at Hull and when I’ve been here, I have predominantly been out on the right wing but being a striker in a two is definitely different, different requirements, but I don’t think it is a million miles away for me.
“I think it’s good for me to have these tests and go through a couple of things like when you give the ball away and I think your always thinking about the next one after that, so it’s definitely different but I feel good in the position, I feel really fit, feel in a really good place and the team have done brilliantly over the last two weeks since we’ve been here.”
Bowen mentioned how him and Füllkrug have spoken to Diouf about getting balls into the box.
“I think me and Fulle have been quite vocal with him [Diouf], we’ve spoke to him on the training pitch and said if you get the ball the wide, don’t disappoint, and put the ball in the mixer.
“Tonight I kind of missed hit the first one and then assisted Fulle but the second one again it’s that ball where he has space, I had space to run into to and you trust the quality that he’s going to put the ball into the box and that it’s going to be a perfect ball, and that’s what it was.
“He’s been here for two-three weeks but it’s like he’s been here much longer because he’s such a nice person and that’s a credit to himself how humble and hardworking he is.”
It is no secret that West Ham struggled last season, and Bowen commented on how he and the coaching staff have been trying to change the morale in the squad coming into the new season.
“Me and the manager have had some honest conversations either at the end of last season or at the start of this season and I think one thing we wanted to improve was the feel good feeling around the place and I think you see it in training, the relay games we do, or the little boxes, everyone has a smile on their face and it’s infections and contagious.
“People thrive off of each other, different groups you’re mixing with that you wouldn’t usually be and I think that’s what we want to be, ultimately, we want everyone to be themselves when they come into training, give the best version of themselves but also feel comfortable in the environment as well because you know we are going into high pressure situations every single weekend.
“To have the week to week environment really high, it’s something the manager is really high on, and I think I am as well. I think for the first three or four weeks we’ve been in pre-season, I can definitely feel a change in and around the place and I think you can see that in the games.”
The 28-year-old reflected on both pre-season trips the Hammers have been on over the last month.
“I think both trips, Germany and then coming straight to America but again what we just spoke on in terms of the environment and the feel good factor, sometimes these trips you can get to the last six days and people start to drift but I haven’t seen any of that.
“It shows what we are trying to create, what we have already created and what people are buying into. We have one more really important game back at home, and it’ll be good to see as many fans as we can and before you know it the Premier League starts.
