Head Coach Graham Potter was pleased with the application shown by his West Ham United players in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by Manchester United in their 2025 Premier League Summer Series opener.
The Irons were made to pay for mistakes made at the start of each half as Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty and then capitalised on a turnover to fire the Red Devils into a two-goal lead.
The Hammers rallied, though, pulled a goal back through Jarrod Bowen’s unstoppable strike midway through the second half, then went close to levelling late on.
Young substitutes Freddie Potts and Preston Fearon – the latter making his maiden first-team appearance at the age of 18 – caught the eye as the Londoners ended the game strongly at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
That pleased Potter, as did Bowen’s fine goal, and the Head Coach was also proud to lead his Club at an iconic venue in front of thousands of US-based West Ham supporters, and many more who had followed their team across the Atlantic Ocean.
It was a good workout and a good occasion, I thought.
I thought both sets of supporters were really good. We got off to a poor start in terms of just a mistake for the goal, which can happen sometimes and then destabilise you a little bit. But I thought we grew into the game, finished the second part of the first half pretty well.
And then, again, we didn't start the second half so well, but again, recovered and played some good football as the game went on. Jarrod scored a fantastic goal and the intention of the team was positive. I thought we just made too many bad executions, but that can happen at this stage of the season.
So, yes, lots to be positive about, but clearly always things to improve.
Mistakes are part of football and certainly at this stage, it's the first game for us really, certainly in this type of environment so you're going to get a little bit of that.
But I thought the spirit of the team, the personality of the team over the course of the game was positive.
There was a connection there with the group, so that's really good. We just have to iron those out, which is normal, and then move on to Wednesday.
I thought the young players did really well.
Freddie and Preston, in particular, you could see the quality they bring, what type of players they are.
So that's exciting for us.
The play up to getting the ball to Jarrod was really, really good.
I think it was JC (Jean-Clair Todibo) and then Tomáš [Souček], and then once you get Jarrod in those situations he can go either side.
It was a fantastic finish. I was just right behind him and it was a great goal.
It was some setting for a game of football.
You have to remind yourself that you're working for West Ham United, which is amazing in itself.
And then you're playing against Manchester United at the MetLife Stadium in front of thousands of people. It’s a really good occasion and I'm proud to be here.
The Premier League have done a fantastic job growing the game and it's a global league.
Obviously, we're delighted to come over and show what we're about as well. Obviously, our supporters, our local community are so important for us, but it's nice to come out and see our fans that maybe can't get to the games as often because they're overseas and there's so many of them here today.
It was a brilliant occasion.
