West Ham forward Niclas Fullkrug delivered a scathing critique of his own team following their recent match.
After West Ham`s draw against Southampton, a result that equaled a historical low for the Saints, Fullkrug did not hold back, expressing his frustration in strong terms.
The German international player apologized for his own poor performance and accused his team-mates of lacking both the drive and the skill necessary, in a frank post-match assessment.
West Ham initially took the lead in the second half with a goal from Jarrod Bowen, but then seemed to retreat defensively, ultimately conceding a late equalizer to Lesley Ugochukwu in the 93rd minute.
Fullkrug, who actually assisted Bowen`s goal, was visibly upset, stating, “It`s a matter of mentality. I am extremely angry today.”
“It`s not just disappointment, it`s anger at our actions after scoring. We struggled to regain momentum and press forward; we simply stopped pushing.”
“We attempted to, but lacked either the capability or the will to push forward again. I`m deeply angered by how we performed.”
“There were moments when we demonstrated our potential against such an opponent at our home ground.”
“We showed our ability to control possession, penetrate their defense, and create opportunities to extend our lead.”
“However, the drive, I`m sorry to say, we were awful, and it makes me furious.”
“It`s a recurring issue where we score, and then immediately resort to long ball tactics from the subsequent kick-off.”
“We abandon any attempt to play cohesive football.”
“We cease to push upfield, we just retreat, and that`s not the intended game plan.”
“Why do we dominate possession for 65 minutes, imperfect as it may be?”
“We aim to maintain possession, generate chances, and score. We succeed in scoring, but then half the team tries to score again while the other half just defends too deeply.”
“This approach is ineffective.”
“We must find a way to unite, to share a common vision of our objectives and strategies.”
“The coach has clearly outlined his expectations, and we all, individually and collectively, need to fulfill them.”
Fans React: 'Truer Words Never Spoken'
Manager Potter, already under pressure with only three wins as West Ham manager, had also previously criticized the team for their inability to maintain control and assert dominance in home games.
Many West Ham supporters resonated with Fullkrug`s passionate outburst.
One fan posted on social media: “Give Fullkrug the manager`s position, never heard anything more accurate.”
Another added: “Some players need to pay attention and emulate this attitude; Fullkrug has spoken nothing but truth!”
And a further comment stated: “That interview with Fullkrug is absolutely spot on.”
