Captain Jarrod Bowen says West Ham United are totally focused on bouncing back from loss at Tottenham Hotspur with an improved performance against Manchester United on Sunday.
The skipper was left frustrated as his team relinquished an early lead before conceding three goals in ten second-half minutes to suffer a disappointing derby defeat.
The big games keep coming in the Premier League, though, and with Manchester United the visitors to London Stadium this weekend, Bowen knows the Hammers need to be right on their game to get the better of Erik ten Hag’s side.
“It has been a week of hard work, focus and preparation at Rush Green as we are all determined to produce a positive performance and result on Sunday afternoon,” said the skipper, who has enjoyed four wins against Manchester United in 13 appearances in Claret and Blue. “Our last two games have been totally the opposite of one another, with a big home win over Ipswich being followed by a disappointing defeat at Spurs.
“We were all down after what happened in the second half at Tottenham. We followed our gameplan well in the first half and got in front and, although we conceded, we actually felt we started the second half positively, then conceded a bad goal.
“What cannot happen is what happened after we went 2-1 down. We cannot lose our concentration like that and let the game get away from us, because Premier League teams do not let you off the hook when you do.
“We play Manchester United on Sunday and we know the quality of players they have in their squad. They have spent a lot of money on internationals and we will need to be on our game throughout to get back to winning ways.
“Being at home is an advantage we need to exploit, though, and the fans’ support will help us achieve what we all want to achieve – a victory.”
Bowen and his teammates will take the knee before kick-off at London Stadium in support of the Premier League’s No Room For Racism campaign.
As part of a multinational, multicultural squad, the No20 is proud to captain a group of players drawn from all over the world united in their desire to do well for West Ham United.
“It goes without saying that prejudice and discrimination have no place in our Club, our dressing room, our stadium or in life in general,” Bowen confirmed. “Football is a special environment where people from all backgrounds mix and work together every day, all over the world, and I am proud to captain a squad with players from four different continents and over a dozen countries. We are all united. West Ham United.
“This week, a lot of us were out in the community meeting our supporters and local people at our Foundation. Having visited the new site being developed in Beckton recently, and met so many of those involved in spreading the message of diversity and inclusion through the power of football and other sports, it makes me feel so proud.
“In a different way, I’ll be proud when I lead the team out on Sunday afternoon and I can’t wait to hear that noise as we walk onto the pitch and try our best to get the three points.”
