West Ham's manager Confident Hammers Will Transform as Players Accept Responsibility for Recent Struggles
Nuno Espírito Santo has declared that the team's squad are eager to evolve and have accepted responsibility for the team's disappointing results over the past 18 months.
Nuno, who is the club’s third manager since David Moyes left at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, is aiming to improve the atmosphere in the dressing room after taking over from his predecessor last weekend. The London club have been short on leadership, and there is a general acknowledgment among the players that they contributed to the former manager losing his job after eight months.
“I find a good team of people,” the manager said. “They're beginning to realise that we have to improve our approach. If we don’t change, results will be the same. The players are willing to change. I can see it. Therefore, let's accept it and transform it.”
“It goes from technical, tactical, physical, mentality, respect, dialogue. Communication is a vital asset for us. We currently lack complete mastery of it. It must become a fair and transparent exchange that we all participate in. They have accounted themselves responsible and are prepared to go.”
Nuno's Current Focus
The new boss has had little time to adjust. He does not have his backroom staff so far, and the ex- Forest manager is avoiding thoughts about what West Ham, 19th before facing Arsenal on Saturday, can achieve this season. “My task is straightforward,” Nuno explained. “It focuses on tomorrow.”
Set-Piece Concerns for the Hammers
A significant worry for the coach is bolstering his side’s defending at set pieces. The club have conceded eight goals from corner kicks this term – the latest goal allowed came in Nuno’s first game, Monday’s tie at Everton – and will be under sustained pressure from set plays against Arsenal. The concern for Nuno is that it becomes a mental issue.
“That's possible,” he said. “However, we'll try to prevent it. The biggest risk that can occur is that if an opponent earns a set-piece, we begin immediately believing that we are in danger. This could develop into a psychological block.”
