West Ham secured a much-needed 1-0 victory over Wolves, but the performance left some concerns, with Jarrod Bowen offering a candid insight into the team’s half-time discussions.
The match was goalless at the break, and Bowen shared that the players felt they were lacking energy in the first half. Speaking to WHUFC.com after the game, Bowen explained:
“It was goalless at half-time, and I think we were just lacking a bit of energy. We said that to each other at half-time, and we’d also identified set-pieces as an area to put pressure on them.”
The team made a slight tactical adjustment during the break, with Bowen taking charge of the first corner on the right-hand side. The move paid off when Tomáš Souček scored from the resulting set-piece, securing the three points for West Ham.
“We made a little tweak at half-time, so that I would take the first corner on that side, and it came off with Tomáš scoring, so it was great to see us make the most of those opportunities and get over the line when it mattered,” Bowen added.
However, there was an underlying tension in Bowen’s words that hinted at concerns about the leadership of manager Julen Lopetegui. Despite the win, some fans and commentators have expressed doubts about the Spanish coach’s future at the club.
The West Ham squad’s half-time adjustments were made without clear mention of Lopetegui’s involvement, leading some to question whether the manager is truly in control.
One source close to the club remarked, “I don’t feel like the players are playing for him. They’re simply putting in a shift for the fans and their own personal pride. The sooner Lopetegui is gone, the better it will be for us as a club.”