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‘Do you want me to swear?' – Graham Potter in meltdown as West Ham boss taunted with X-rated ‘the German's right' chants

‘Do you want me to swear?' – Graham Potter in meltdown as West Ham boss taunted with X-rated ‘the German's right' chants

The Irish Sun27-04-2025

GRAHAM POTTER fumed 'do you want me to swear?' as he suffered a meltdown after West Ham went seven games without a win.
The normally level-headed Hammers boss was left fuming in his press conference as his side were beaten 3-2 by Brighton at his old stomping ground.
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Graham Potter had a meltdown after West Ham lost to Brighton at the Amex
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Potter was asked about the X-rated West Ham fans chants directed at him
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West Ham lost their 16th game of the season on Saturday
Potter was taunted with chants from his own fans in support of
He was also booed by
Potter said: 'The pain at the moment is pretty hard.
'We're all devastated. We're unable to sustain what we need to do to win games in the Premier League.
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When asked about the chants, he said: 'They're entitled to sing whatever they want' before denying that he left out German striker Fullkrug from the starting line up
He added: 'No one wants to hear positives. It doesn't matter. I'm sick of talking about positives.
'We have to stick together, because it's a tough last four weeks. We have to be together.
'Honestly, I don't feel like I want to speak about anything positive, because I'm in too much pain to talk about positives, and no one wants to hear positives.
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'But there were some of course, there were I'm not stupid, but we've lost and two goals have gone in from 35 meters. Congratulations to Brighton.
'I'm going to be frustrated. I'm not a robot. I'm a human being as well.
'Give Fullkrug the manager's job' - West Ham star launches expletive-laden rant at team-mates for 'not playing football'
'I stand there myself, give everything to this, what I'm doing of course, I'm gonna be upset.
'I have to come here and speak calmly to you guys, but that's not how I'm feeling inside. If you want me to swear, I can swear.
'I can assure you, there are not many human beings that will be feeling more pain than me at the moment about a football match.
"I understand the supporters' frustration. I understand that, absolutely. And yes, it's tough for us all.'
Fullkrug launched a
The
German apologised for being "s***" and accused his team-mates of lacking motivation and ability in a scathing assessment.
Fullkrug, who set up Jarrod Bowen's goal against the Saints, fumed: "It is a mindset problem. Very angry today.
"We don't try to play football anymore. Sorry we were s*** and I'm very angry.
"We don't push up anymore, we just sink and that's not the way we want to play.
"It is not the first time where we score a goal and then the next goal kick we just shoot the ball long."
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Niclas Fullkrug launched a furious rant against his own team-mates last week

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'It was crazy to be out on the pitch': Liverpool title celebrations and Limerick hurling glories
'It was crazy to be out on the pitch': Liverpool title celebrations and Limerick hurling glories

The 42

timean hour ago

  • The 42

'It was crazy to be out on the pitch': Liverpool title celebrations and Limerick hurling glories

DAVID BREEN MAPS out his recent tour of sporting arenas. Last night was at the Aviva Stadium, a chance to catch up on the progress of the Ireland soccer side he worked with as a physio last year, his time overlapping the interim reign of John O'Shea and the start of the Heimir Hallgrímsson era. Tonight he'll be at the Gaelic Grounds, the pitch he was acquainted with in his Limerick hurling days, just a kilometre away from his club base in Caherdavin with Na Piarsaigh. Rewind back two weeks to another venue. Anfield on Premier League trophy presentation day. The first time Liverpool got to share title celebrations with their fans in 35 years after the Covid-disruption of 2020. Breen linked up with the club last November, starting a role as first team rehabilitation physio. The outburst of vivid colour and deafening noise and wild joy a fortnight ago set him back. Having a front-row view on the pitch for those couple of hours after the draw with Crystal Palace, created memories that will always linger. Liverpool players celebrate their Premier League title win. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 'The atmosphere at Anfield is is pretty special regardless, but when you're there when they win the league and lift the trophy, you're just seeing the energy around the place and the emotion. 'It was crazy to be out on the pitch and celebrating. It's something that you'd watch on TV and then you're in the middle of it. It's surreal. 'The way in which the league was won against Spurs, with four games left, it was a real long build up to lifting the trophy after the Palace game. 'So it almost felt like the excitement built even more. 'When you experience it, you're pretty sure you'll never ever experience anything like this again.' Breen was mainly a Celtic fans growing up, a connection that hardened when he spent time studying in Scotland. Stepping into the working world as a physio afforded him opportunities with an array of sporting sides, rugby a dominant theme. He worked with the Leinster Academy for a couple of years, Tadhg Furlong a housemate for a while. By April 2017 he was in England with Wasps and returning home to face Leinster in a Champions Cup quarter-final. Different roles followed since the summer of 2020, time in the Manchester City academy, a couple of years back in Limerick with the Munster rugby setup, a year with Harlequins in the English Premiership, and then Liverpool. His latest sporting adventure commands more interest from friends back home. Advertisement 'I've plenty of mates that are Liverpool fans and let's just say a lot more people got in touch since I've been with Liverpool than getting tickets to some of the rugby clubs I worked for! 'Obviously the club is global and the support back in Ireland for Liverpool is crazy. You do get a sense of walking into the place that it's such a historic club, all the players that have played there, they're on the wall. You're looking at the trophies that have been won and you can just tell it's a winning club that that goes about its business in the right way.' David Breen with the Premier League trophy. Breen's day to day is spent with those stuck on the treatment table for extended periods of time. He's dealing with players operating at a stratosphere of fame, but their application remains laser-focused. 'Like any any top team players, they set their own standards and are role models in the squad. Younger players will look up to older players that have achieved a lot in their careers and they see their prep and good habits, and that spreads throughout the throughout the squad. 'The physio group is split between the rehab side, dealing with the players that have short or long term injuries, and then guys that are on the medical performance side and they travel to most of the games. 'So I tend to do a lot of the rehab with the longer term injuries, that's been my role in a few different clubs. You work around the team schedule, so whenever the team is playing, if it's playing on a Monday or if it's playing on a Sunday, you kind of map out your week from there.' It's a different world but there have been enough Irish connections dotted around Anfield and Melwood to help him settle in. 'Caoimhin (Kelleher) and Conor (Bradley), I got on well with with those two lads in particular, so it was nice to suppose celebrate with boys that you're close to in the squad. Conor Bradley is is a really, really top fella, like he's a great lad. 'I would have known Caoimhin from from the Republic of Ireland squad before coming into the club. Caoimh has moved on now this week to Brentford. He's an immensely talented player and he's a huge character as well. He's a fella that was very much loved by staff and players, whatever dressing room he goes into, he'll bring that with him, and I'd just wish him all the best with it. 'Then we've got some staff as well like Conall Murtagh (head of physical performance) is Northern Ireland, Chris Black's (lead S&C coach) from Northern Ireland, Clare Farrell (lead performance nutritionist) is from Longford. I would have worked with Clare in Munster. 'You do definitely get the sense that there's a strong kind of Irish connection in the club there and there's a lot of love for Irish people I think in Liverpool.' David Breen with Conor Bradley and Caomihin Kelleher afer Liverpool's title win. In a past life his focus was on the pitch rather than the physio table. Years hurling at the elite level of county and club games with Limerick and Na Piarsaigh. When Breen joined the club, Kelleher spread word of that sporting prowess in the dressing room. 'Caoimhin had told a couple of the lads, and then Andy Robertson was one guy in particular that really jumped onto the whole kind of hurling thing. He's always had plenty interest in it. 'Guys would be aware of hurling without majority of them haven't actually probably seen a game. We brought in the in the hurleys one day, myself and Caoimhin, and and had a few pucks and a few of the other staff had a go as well after training.' There is a contrast between the time Breen spent hurling for Limerick and the current Shannonside crew. When he takes his seat this evening, his mind will wander back to the last Limerick-Cork Munster hurling final at the venue. Breen started wing-forward on the 2013 afternoon when Limerick closed a 17-year spell of hurt and frustration. 'It was very different for us. It really just felt like a watershed moment, you were able to just get over the line and and it was it was like our All-Ireland in many ways.' Limerick's Donal O'Grady lifts the cup after the 2013 Munster hurling final. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO Memories of that showdown? 'Probably missing a goal in the first half,' laughs Breen. 'The other memories were just how hot it was. 'It was just intensely hot and we were doing our warm up and people were packed into the stadium. 'I know that that's the norm now that there's no empty seats left anywhere, but I think in 2012, 13, there wasn't many games where every seat was taken. So just the energy and the intensity from the crowd just in the buildup to the game stands out. 'In the warm up we couldn't get more vaseline on the forehead or the eyebrows and just towels out trying to rinse the sweat off the grip. 'And then just obviously the noise of the place. That's probably the first game where where you're screaming at a guy that's 15 metres away and he can't hear you. 'It felt like we were on it from early doors againt Cork that day. The biggest thing for us and for the crowd and for everyone is that we were able to see it through. There's plenty of times prior to 2013 where you've been on it and you just can't get over the line. 'It was all moral victories and all nearly stories but that day we did see it through. Fellas came off the bench and finished the job. The pitch invasion then was pretty legendary stuff.' Stephen Walsh, Seanie Tobin, David Breen and Thomas Ryan in the dressing room after the 2013 Munster final. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO If that achievement was isolated, the relentlessness of the present Limerick group in gobbling up trophies stands out. He has some insight to the group through four Na Piarsaigh club-mates, players he combined with for 2016 All-Ireland club glory in Croke Park – Shane Dowling, Mike and Peter Casey, and William O'Donoghue. Wear his physio and hurling hats, he is struck by the resilience of the Casey brothers who have persisted after a series of shattering injury setbacks. 'I think that's the modern day GAA player now. They have to take big injuries on the chin and like they're so professional too that there's no reason (not to come back). I mean, you get a big injury, you have surgery, you rehab it, you might have to write it off that season, but you look to the next season. It's very much a professional mindset in terms of how guys deal with injuries now and how they deal with setbacks. 'That was a really big injury that that Peter picked up, probably in the most public of forums really, but, he's done his ACL, he did his ankle last year, he'll have that kind of confidence that he can deal with big injuries like that and he can get back. Same with his with his older brother Mike. 'I think all of that Limerick squad seem seemed pretty mentally strong, they're able to handle handle big injuries and hats off to the medical team inside there. They've had their fair share of big one big injuries like that over the last few years and they've dealt with them very admirably.' On the sideline is another familiar figure. His link with Paul Kinnerk stretches back years to their school days. He has watched his friend become one of the greatest coaches operating in Irish sport over the last 15 years. Read Next Related Reads 'It was a whole new world for me': Limerick-Cork Munster final memories 50 years on 'That narrative has been debunked now' - Limerick boss hits back at end of an era talk Pat Ryan: 'Some of our own people writing off Limerick. Are they off their game?' ***** Paul Kinnerk Coaching Honours List All-Ireland senior – 2013, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023. – 2013, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023. All-Ireland U21 – 2012, 2013, 2014. – 2012, 2013, 2014. Munster senior – 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. – 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. Munster U21 – 2012, 2013, 2014. – 2012, 2013, 2014. Munster minor – 2010, 2011. – 2010, 2011. National League – 2016, 2019, 2020, 2023. ***** 'It just goes to show his quality and talent. My close group of friends would know Paul just from growing up with him and being a close friend, but we know how intense he is, about anything really that he puts his mind to. 'Obviously since since finishing his own kind of playing days in football, he's really just gone all in around his PhD and and his coaching, as well as obviously his family, but he is really passionate about the coaching and he's a fierce competitor as well. Limerick head coach Paul Kinnerk. Tom Maher / INPHO Tom Maher / INPHO / INPHO 'He does not like to lose. I think you have to be that way if you're going to be put your mind to anything and if you're going to be passionate about something. We've been with Paul through thick and thin, those experiences of winning and having big highs, but also he's had had games that they've lost as well, where they haven't won championships and and and he's absolutely devastated. 'He really goes all in on it and I think any player that's worked with him or being coached by him would be the first to say that. He gives everything to it.' The energy and effort has blended together to power Limerick to the cusp of seven-in-a-row in Munster. Breen saw enough demoralising days to appreciate the uncharted waters they now sail in. And yet he's grateful to have sampled a Munster final day in the winners' enclosure. There'll be reminders in tonight's participants. Horgan, Harnedy and Lehane still in the attacking mix for Cork, while Dowling, Hannon and Quaid endure in Limerick colours. And there's an appreciation as well for the Cork man guiding the Limerick fortunes 11 years ago. 'John Allen was a real standout manager for me in my years of playing county. He went against the grain on a lot of things. He had the courage of his own convictions. I was just delighted on that day, in that year, his approach towards training, his approach towards team selection and things paid off for him. 'It would have been easy to come under pressure or feel that you have to toe the line with people's thoughts are that you should play a different team or players shouldn't play in this position. 'I was delighted for John Allen that day as much as anything else.' ***** * Check out the latest episode of The42′s GAA Weekly podcast here

Leo Cullen plans for penalties as Leinster target URC final breakthrough in Glasgow semi-final
Leo Cullen plans for penalties as Leinster target URC final breakthrough in Glasgow semi-final

The Irish Sun

timean hour ago

  • The Irish Sun

Leo Cullen plans for penalties as Leinster target URC final breakthrough in Glasgow semi-final

LEO CULLEN wants Leinster to kick on to the URC final — and he is ready for kicks to decide it if it comes to that. Advertisement 2 Leinster boss Leo Cullen admitted that he's left no stone unturned ahead of the URC semi-final against Glasgow 2 Munster suffered a heartbreaking defeat via penalties against the Sharks last week - and Leinster boss Cullen is ready for that if needs be And while favourites for victory, Cullen is taking no chances as he admitted He said: 'I don't know was the fact there was a penalty shootout in one of the games last week, does that play on our minds, stacking the bench with kickers? 'It is a possibility and it is definitely something that needs to be considered.' What it means is that, as well as Ciarán Frawley, Ross Byrne is Advertisement read more on rugby Frawley normally covers No 10 when he is on the bench but will now cover midfield and full-back. And, along with Prendergast, it gives Leinster three quality kickers in their panel as the Blues head into their fifth knockout game of the season between the Champions Cup and the URC. Shootouts are a rarity in rugby and Leinster have never been in one. But Cullen's men have been preparing for that eventuality over the past two months. Cullen continued: 'It has been there. This is play-off game five. Advertisement Most read in Rugby Union 'Extra-time has been in the mix for a while now so it's one of those scenarios that we would talk about and practice for the kickers.' But while Leinster prepare for all eventualities as they bid to get to the final, Cullen is confident that motivation is one area that does not need addressing. 'Big weekend' - Peter O'Mahony embarking on hectic gardening project as he aims to add '300 plants' Ever since that agonising 37-34 loss to Northampton, a cloud has hung over the province. But a URC final and victory would end a four-year trophy drought. Advertisement And He said: 'I was watching the Champions League and a lot of the pundits were saying the other team was going to win. They lost. 'We think we might know what's going to happen but it's two teams going at it and we'll wait and see. 'There's enough going on to be motivated to get through this game at the weekend. If you put on and get a performance, lots of things will fall into place.' Advertisement Cullen's troops are near full strength but Lions quartet Garry Ringrose (calf), Tadhg Furlong (calf), Josh van der Flier (hamstring) and Hugo Keenan (calf) will not be risked as they near returns. Their absences open the door for Jimmy O'Brien at full-back and Scott Penny — overlooked by Ireland for the upcoming games against Georgia and Portugal this week — on the flank, while Jamie Osborne starts in midfield. Osborne, 23, has played in all five backline slots this season but Cullen admits midfield may be his best position. He said: 'We have had that conversation with Jamie. Advertisement 'He's played 15 for Ireland, on the wing in the Six Nations and has featured in the centre. He's more of a midfielder or No 15. I don't think we see him on the wing anyway. 'He can do a job on the wing, but we don't see him as a winger, he's a midfielder who plays 15 or a 15 that plays midfield. 'He's still very young at 23. If he's nailed down a position as a 25-year-old, you'd hope he'd have ten years left in his career.' LEINSTER: J O'Brien, T O'Brien, J Osborne, J Barrett, J Lowe, S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, D Sheenan, T Clarkson, J McCarthy, J Ryan, R Baird, S Penny, J Conan. Reps: R Kelleher, J Boyle, R Slimani, RG Snyman, M Deegan, L McGrath, R Byrne, C Frawley. Advertisement

Caoimhin Kelleher: Brentford move 'a long time coming'
Caoimhin Kelleher: Brentford move 'a long time coming'

RTÉ News​

time7 hours ago

  • RTÉ News​

Caoimhin Kelleher: Brentford move 'a long time coming'

Caoimhin Kelleher is confident that playing on a weekly basis in the Premier League will help him to hold onto the Ireland No. 1 jersey. The Premier League winning keeper with Liverpool made his long awaited move to Brentford this week. signing a five-year deal with the Bees after six seasons at Anfield, where he made 67 appearances. "Obviously, it's been a long time coming," Kelleher told RTÉ Sport after tonight's 1-1 draw with Senegal. "Really happy to get it over the line and get it done. And looking forward to get going over there. "(I've) played well for Ireland. I think I've done well enough to keep the No. 1 position. I need to keep playing well to keep the position. But no doubt playing week in, week out is going to help my cause, for sure." Having vied with Gavin Bazunu for the starting keeper jersey under Stephen Kenny, Kelleher has been the undisputed first choice under Heimir Hallgrimsson. Tonight saw another strong display, with Kelleher pulling off a spectacular fingertip save from Krepin Diatta to preserve Ireland's lead in the second half. He was ultimately beaten from close range by Ismaila Sarr although only on the rebound after saving with his feet from Cherif Ndiaye. Despite the late concession of the equaliser, Kelleher was satisfied with the performance and the direction of travel under the manager. "It was a big save (from Diatta). You have to make those big saves if you want to be a top goalkeeper. I want to keep doing that and helping the team. "We're disappointed to concede and not keep a clean sheet. But throughout the game, we were solid and we limited them to a few chances from crosses. Shay Given puts the microscope over Caoimhin Kelleher's saves against Senegal before he and Didi Hamann discuss his decision to join Brentford #COYBIG #IRLSEN 📺 @rte2 @rteplayer 📱 Updates - — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 6, 2025 "It's a very positive performance from us. We've come in there a bit disappointed not to win the game which is a good sign. They're one of the best nations in the world. It's very positive and we're going in the right direction. "We were brilliant in the first half. We sustained attacks really well. We didn't give them any chance to counter attack and we created a good amount of chances as well."

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