Jarrod Bowen speaks out on Julen Lopetegui as West Ham fans call for axe
West Ham fans chanted for Julen Lopetegui to be sacked as pressure mounts on the Spaniard following a 3-1 defeat at Leicester.
West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen has put on a united front amidst growing pressure on manager Julen Lopetegui.
In Tuesday night's disheartening 3-1 defeat at Leicester, Hammers supporters voiced their discontent with chants of "You’re getting sacked in the morning" and Lopetegui's position seems increasingly precarious.
Bowen insists the players must take blame despite the supporters pointing the finger at Lopetegui.
Speaking to the club's official website, he said: "There’s pressure on the players as well. We’re the ones who have to go out there and perform, and we haven’t done that to the level that we know we’re capable of.
"We need to turn it around as we’re all in it together as a group. It’s down to us to go out there and perform and do better than what we’re doing.
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"I think you’ve got to be clinical when you’re in this league or you get punished," and lamented the team's lack of finishing despite having 31 shots on goal.
"I think the goals we conceded were really soft, and if you don’t keep the ball out of your net at one end, and if you don’t take your chances at the other end, it makes it more difficult.
"We had a lot of chances we didn’t put away, and I think the first goal is avoidable. We knew it was going to be a fast start for them under a new manager and that they would create a lot of energy."
Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy was left frustrated by the number of chances his side gave up despite emerging victorious on his Foxes debut.
He said: "I think that was the most disappointing thing for us, that we conceded so early. We had lots of chances, but it’s down to us not putting them away, so that’s the most disappointing thing on the night."
"The defensive shape is important and getting pressure on opponents. The timing of the press is quite difficult and it needs time and co-ordination to get that right.
"In the end, our goalkeeper kept us in the game. We were 1-0 up, had a difficult period and he made some very important saves. We had some great blocks as well, but I think everyone was working and helping each other."
