Jarrod Bowen believes the on and off-field condition of the team is about as good as it could be after West Ham United signed off from the Premier League Summer Series with an impressive 2-0 win over AFC Bournemouth in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Hammers captain notched the all-important winner midway through the second half against the Cherries, after he had assisted strike partner Niclas Füllkrug for the opener in the 24th minute.
Goals for both Bowen and Füllkrug mean the duo each end the Summer Series campaign with two goals from three games, while a clean sheet at Mercedes-Benz Stadium breeds positivity at the bottom of the pitch too.
The players are working as a unit, and while much has been made of the thriving camaraderie within camp, Bowen is confident the relationships developed throughout pre-season are definitely translating to performances and results.
“One of the main things we wanted to improve going into pre-season this year was the feeling around the place, and I think you can see the impact the improvement’s having,” Bowen said.
“You can see it in training, with little relay games and things. Everyone’s got a smile on their face, and it’s infectious. It’s contagious - people buzz off each other, and mix with groups they might not otherwise, which is where I think we want to be.
“Sometimes long trips away can be tough, with people flagging towards the end, but I haven’t seen any of that this summer, in Germany or in the USA. That’s really positive, because I think we’re all working really hard, but also enjoying ourselves and being together.
“Ultimately, we want everyone to be themselves when they come into training. We want them to give the best versions of themselves, but also to feel comfortable as well because we’re going into a high-pressure environment every single weekend. It’s something that both the manager, and me as captain, are really keen on.
“Some people might think it sounds silly, but I think you can see that vibe on the pitch as well. It means you’re a team of brothers going to war together, and it means you know you’re all doing battle together.”
There was certainly evidence of team harmony throughout an enticing clash against Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon, with one recent addition to the Hammers’ ranks particularly catching Bowen’s eye.
Senegal international El Hadji Malick Diouf was a threat from the left throughout and ultimately provided the cross for Bowen’s goal, one of several standout moments that saw him crowned Player of the Match.
Having played a hand in both of the Irons’ goals in the State of Georgia, Bowen also spoke about lining up in a somewhat unfamiliar role as part of a two up front with Füllkrug, that is currently proving encouragingly fruitful.
Bowen continued: “Myself and Fülle have been quite vocal with him (Diouf), and spoke to him about getting the ball in the mixer when he’s out wide.
“And you’ve seen what he’s capable of today. I sort of missed one but then I got the assist for Fülle’s goal, and then after that I got my goal.
“You just trust his quality, and know that it’s likely to be a perfect cross. It feels like he’s been here ages, even though it’s just a few weeks, but I think that’s credit to him because he’s such a nice person, and is really humble and hard-working.
“I am playing something of a new role, but I’m really enjoying it. It’s not a whole new position, but throughout my career I’ve predominantly played out on the wing, so there are differences playing as a striker in a two.
“It’s been good for me to have a good amount of minutes out here playing in the position, and I think there have been good examples of me and Fülle linking up really well. We’ve both scored goals, and feel in a good place, which is good.”
Having drawn the curtain on match action in the States, West Ham will now head back to London on Monday evening, ahead of an exciting final pre-season clash against LOSC Lille before the all-important Premier League opener away at Sunderland on Saturday 16 August.
Bowen added: “It’s been a great trip, and we’ve taken a lot from it. We’ve played some good games, done some good stuff off the pitch, and I think we’re in good shape.
“We’ve got a good game to look forward to against Lille next weekend, and then it’s the Premier League, which we’re all looking forward to. We’ve got a really exciting couple of weeks coming up, and we can’t wait.”
