Paul Konchesky has issued an apology to West Ham supporters after what he considered an "embarrassing" display against WSL champions Chelsea in the Conti Cup semi-final.
The Hammers fell to an insipid 7-0 defeat in front of a home crowd as the Blues ran rampant, with Sam Kerr finding the back of the net inside three minutes. The opening goal proved a harrowing harbinger for the treatment still to come from Emma Hayes' side, who coolly slotted home seven goals before the 70-minute mark.
The lethargic defensive display from Konchesky's side was in shocking contrast to that shown on Sunday in the goalless draw against title-challengers Arsenal, whom Chelsea will now face in the Conti Cup final.
READ MORE: West Ham defensive grit hailed as first WSL point of new year secured against Arsenal
And Konchesky has apologised to fans for the substandard performance.
"As the manager, I'm embarrassed," Konchesky told the club's website. "Embarrassed more because of the effort my team put in on Sunday to get a 0-0 draw and a point against Arsenal - and listen, I know we're playing a fantastic football team tonight - but the desire to work and resilience my team showed on Sunday, I don't think they brought that to the table today.
"All I can do is apologise [to the fans] on my behalf and the girls' behalf for the result."
West Ham relished a club-record crowd on Sunday against Arsenal as a crowd just shy of 3,000 packed out the Chigwell Construction Stadium for the plucky affair, but for those 1,092 in attendance on Thursday evening, Konchesky had only regrets.
"If it's not for [fans] like them who come here and cheer our girls on, maybe we wouldn't be where we are right now because they are our 12th player like I said on Sunday, and they were fantastic again tonight," he said.
For Chelsea, Thursday's match-up was the latest exercise in ruthlessness as they laid siege to keeper Mackenzie Arnold with 18 shots at goal and 11 on target, while consigning West Ham to just one shot at goal all match.
The consummate performance garnered nothing but praise from an effervescent Hayes.
"We want to be serial winners," Hayes told Chelsea's website. "Anything less is unacceptable for us. The challenge I put forward to the team is making sure they know the gap has closed and every team around us is ready to take titles from us, so we have to be at our very best."
The performance sends a daunting warning to the rest of the league and will certainly serve as a source of anticipation for Chelsea as they consider the ensuing final against Arsenal, whose frugality in front of goal of late is difficult to not to consider when watching this current Blues side take to the pitch.
Indeed, Kerr - who slotted home four goals within an hour - lauded her side's terrifying attacking cohesion in her post-match assessment.
"Everyone did their job and when we play like that, no one can get near us," Kerr said. "It's quite scary how quickly we can move the ball. It all clicked and came together and it's one of those nights where it felt like every pass, every run was the right one.
"I do get that service every week, it's just about putting it away. The movement off the ball allowed me to have space in the box. It was a good night for everyone."
The Conti Cup final is set for 5 March between Chelsea and Arsenal at Selhurst Park.
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