Split image of West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo and Swansea boss Vitor Matos

Nuno Espirito Santo and Vitor MatosImago/Swansea City AFC on YouTube

Why West Ham fans will love Nuno's one-word reply to 'must-win' Swansea question

Head of Editorial Standards & Recruitment AUTHORITY Former senior digital journalist at Stats Perform; network specialist in live data, editorial standards, and journalist recruitment. FOCUS Editorial standards, Statscore live data integration, newsroom operations, and recruitment. THE BRIEF Pete brings deep data expertise from his time at Stats Perform to oversee the network’s use of Statscore’s live data, setting the standard for how writers use it to produce original editorial content. He is also responsible for maintaining editorial standards and leading recruitment across the network.

Published on:

17 Oct 2026, 6:10 am

West Ham United are out to build on their resounding victory at Lincoln City last time out.

The Hammers had drawn their previous two Championship outings prior to visiting Sincil Bank on Wednesday.

But West Ham absolutely battered a Lincoln side that finished the game with nine men, running out 6-0 victors on their travels.

Konstantinos Mavropanos put West Ham ahead on the stroke of half-time, as Nuno Espirito Santo's side struggled to break down the nine men.

After the break it was a different story, though, as Edvin Austbo, Jarrod Bowen, and Pablo put the visitors in control before Tomas Soucek netted twice late on.

Now, it's a trip to table-toppers Swansea City and one thing Nuno said will really please the Hammers faithful.

What did Nuno say about West Ham's clash against Swansea?

Swansea have been excellent this season under Vitor Matos.

The Swans have only lost once in 10 Championship outings, racking up 23 points to climb to the top of the table.

West Ham find themselves two spot and four points further back, and will be keen to cut the deficit in South Wales this weekend.

Indeed, it was a topic of discussion that came up with Nuno in the pre-match press conference on Friday.

Nuno was asked whether it was too early to describe the Swansea game as "must-win", to which he gave the reply: "No."

Nuno would further elaborate on his answer, saying: "Look, all the matches are must-win because the points are, since the first game to the end, exactly the same.

"So for us, it's always a must-win game, always. It's our objective."

The simple reason Kyle Walker-Peters must start over Joel Veltman in West Ham clash vs Swansea

Nuno's mentality exactly what West Ham need to get promoted

That was such a refreshing thing for Nuno to say.

What's the point in downplaying the importance of these games?

Okay, sure, there will be plenty more to come this season. And there will inevitably be downs to go with the ups.

But ensuring his squad have the mindset that they have to win every game is crucial if they are to get themselves promoted back to the Premier League.

Nuno could have chosen to play it down, but instead he chose to acknowledge the opportunity his side have at the Swansea.com Stadium.

It's exactly what the Hammers fans will love to hear.

Tomas Soucek