West Ham United beat Ipswich 4-1 at home in the 7th round of the English Premier League. Hammers captain Bowen was interviewed by the media after the match, commenting on his team's performance and looking ahead to the next matches.
Bowen began by saying, "Today's performance was much better and it was exactly what we needed. We knew before the international day what a positive performance and result would mean for the team and we discussed and prepared well for it. We scored in the opening stages, which was good, but our opponent's quick equalizer left us a little unsatisfied."
Speaking about Kudus' goal in the 44th minute, Bowen said, "Kudus scored at the perfect time because a 1-1 scoreline is always fraught with variables. We emphasized at halftime the importance of continuing to score goals and ending the suspense of the game, and thank goodness we did. The goal was crucial for us."
On a personal note, Bowen said, "I never needed any extra motivation, and the news (of falling out of the England squad) was just one of those things. But you either let those things consume you or go and show what you can do. My mindset has always been the same and it's the same for the club. It was a bit of a difficult situation for us, but it's great that we got the job done this game."
Bowen also praised the entire team's performance, "It was a very good all-team performance and I'm happy for Cudus, Antonio and Paquita, who played very well. Also, the backline and midfield had a very bright performance. Like I said, it was a positive game that we desperately needed."
Looking ahead to International Day and our next opponents, Bowen said, "You certainly don't want to lose a game before International Day, and thankfully those players who are going to the national team can leave with a happy heart. For us, we will continue to be on the training ground ready for the big game against Tottenham. Hopefully we can avoid injuries and build on this game."
