Seb Denies Rift Claims

Sebastien Schemmel angrily denies a recent newspaper report claiming that he had described the relationship between the fans and the players as a 'war'.

In an example of rather unscrupulous journalism, the report last week, in the build up to the Spurs game, claimed Seb had used the word to analyse how things are with the supporters, but he insists:

"I was supposed to have said that? I never said that; it is not true because I love the fans, and I play for them.

"I remember now that a journalist put that to me but I never agreed - I know the fans are not very happy at the moment, but that is normal.

"There are no problems with the fans whatsoever; last season I won the player of the season award from them.

"I am disappointed with myself, not the fans - the fans don't play, I do.

"But I need them to play well, and we will need them at Chelsea."

Looking back on the draw against Manchester City he says:

"I was not pleased because the team needed three points and for me we lost two, because we had played well in the first half.

"Manchester City went for one point; I was talking to Bernabia and he admitted that.

"The team played much better, we didn't concede, but I am still disappointed because we worked so hard for nothing.

"If West Ham scored from all our chances we would maybe be in the top six at the moment, but we are working very hard on the training ground and I know we will come back; I don't know when that will be, but perhaps Saturday at Chelsea.

"If the team wins one game we will start the season."

Seb wasn't aware until told that he was unfortunately part of a team making its worst start in West Ham's history, and admits:

"I didn't know that but I don't want to be a part of bad history; I am working hard to get us up the table and if we finish in the top 10 or seven everybody will forget this bad start - but at the moment it is reality."

Seb was not even on the bench at Spurs the previous week, but says there are no hard feelings about that.

"Every player is professional and players were changed, but those not playing obviously wanted to," he says.

"This weekend it was Christian's turn but there is a squad of 25 or 26 players; the week before I didn't play and maybe I won't play next week, who knows?

"But the problem is not just personal, it is about the squad playing well - and winning, which is all I want.

"Perhaps it may not come at Chelsea, but in the Worthington Cup and then against Birmingham; but if we have a good mentality we can bounce back.

"It is early days, and it is not the fault of Glenn, it is not the fault of me, it is everyone's.

"But I am sure with the players we have we can turn things around."