Boss Graham Potter is hopeful his West Ham United side can build on last weekend’s encouraging 2-0 win at Manchester United when they welcome Nottingham Forest to London Stadium for their final home Premier League clash of 2024/25 on Sunday.
The Hammers brought a welcome end to their eight-game winless run when they earned their first league victory at Old Trafford for 18 years, with the result lifting them above the Red Devils and Tottenham Hotspur in the table, and up to 15th.
Two games of the campaign remain, with a final-day trip to Ipswich Town coming up after the visit of Nuno Espírito Santo’s Reds, and Potter is eyeing a fast finish in order to build considerable momentum they can take into the summer.
While answering questions about team news, and the continual contribution of departing duo Aaron Cresswell and Vladimír Coufal, Potter also shared his thoughts on Forest’s impressive form this term, that has left them within reach of UEFA Champions League qualification with 36 games played.
Currently sitting seventh, just one point below Chelsea in fifth and having already secured European football for 2025/26, Sunday’s visitors are sure to come out all guns blazing as they look to cap an incredible season by earning a spot at the continent’s elite table.
As the anticipation for kick-off continues to grow, Potter was also asked about two members of his squad who have caught the eye in recent weeks, while he reserved a mention for Goodison Park, with Everton’s men’s side set to play their final match there on Sunday ahead of a move to Bramley-Moore Dock.
No new injury issues
I think we’re pretty much as we were, and there were no injury problems from the game [against Manchester United].
Everybody’s been training, so yeah, we’re ready to go.
Departing players still playing an important role
In terms of the two players we selected [against Manchester United - Aaron Cresswell and Vladimír Coufal], there’s no doubt about them in terms of their personality, their professionalism and what they’ve done for the Football Club.
Obviously, we’ve spoken about that a lot, and rightly so. But in the short term, you have to decide how best you can win a game of football, and we wanted to use those two players.
No Antonio updates
There are no updates on Michail. When we have one, we’ll obviously let our supporters know.
As I said before, he’s in a unique situation where the focus is on his recovery. When we have anything to announce, we will.
Aiming for a fast finish
There are two games to go, and right now our sole focus is on Nottingham Forest.
They’re obviously challenging for their own things, which makes it a really good game for us, but it’s our last game at home and we want to try and win the match. We want to try and finish the season with two wins, obviously.
Tricky test posed by Tricky Trees
You have to say they’ve had a fantastic season. This time last year they were probably at the opposite end of the table, so it just goes to show what can happen.
I think it’s credit to everybody involved at Nottingham Forest. There’s a stability there now, they’ve continually improved and they’ve recruited well.
They have individuals with high quality. They use Chris Wood really well, and the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White, Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi have all been impressive.
Since coming up they’ve recruited, they’ve stabilised, they’ve carried on improving and they’ve built a team that is really strong, well-functioning and well-rounded. They’ve done a great job, and it’s going to be tough against them.
Signing off from home in the right way
I think the most important relationship at a football club is the one between the team and the supporters.
It’s something we know we have to improve, because for a while results and performances to a certain extent haven’t been how we would like them to be, and it’s hard to get that connection.
That’s something we know we have to try to improve. We’ll do it to the best of our ability on Sunday and then, of course, it’s a process of work going into the summer and beyond.
Competitive Premier League season
I think you can see how competitive the Premier League is, that’s for sure. What teams have done in the past doesn’t matter because teams are so well organised now, and clubs are so aligned.
People use the resources very, very well and it’s an incredibly competitive competition. That’s probably how I assess it from the outside and since I’ve been back, and that’s certainly how it’s felt, as well.
Kudus catching the eye
He’s been working hard since we’ve been here. Sometimes when the team isn’t maybe functioning as well as you’d like, individuals within the team can suffer with that.
But all I can comment on is his day-to-day work, and that has been of a high level. He gives his best and the maximum he can, and I think it’s probably just the little things that haven’t gone his way have gone his way recently.
He’s just got the reward for that work, I think. We can see the talent, we can see the potential, and it’s our responsibility and his to try and keep building on that.
Souček the stalwart
He’s been a fantastic signing for the Club, first and foremost, for what he’s delivered over a considerable period of time.
He’s brilliant in the boxes, he helps defensively, he’s strong at set-pieces and then he chips in with vital goals, as well. He’s someone who goes about his work in a quiet way, but he always gives 100 per cent. He’s been fantastic to work with.
Goodison Park goodbye
I’ve got a lot of memories from Goodison Park. I’ve been fortunate to be a manager there and to play as part of a visiting team. I think I’ve won a few there, but I’ve found it difficult there as well.
There’s always a special atmosphere there, and it’s an iconic ground. When the crowd are there, they really are in the game. As an away team, you always find it tough there.
