West Ham fans will love Nuno Espirito Santo’s ‘main message’ ahead of Arsenal clash
West Ham look like a team rejuvenated after Nuno Espirito Santo’s arrival.
West Ham were valiant in their 1-1 draw against Everton, especially in the second half when the Hammers showed resilience to take a point from the Toffees.
Changes were made to the regular starting eleven seen under Graham Potter, as Nuno now has some easy selection choices.
West Ham fans have renewed hope under Nuno after only one game, with growing optimism that this season may not be as bleak as once feared.
Nuno‘s latest comments ahead of the Arsenal showdown on Saturday will only boost that excitement.
Nuno Espirito Santo looks to shift West Ham mentality
One of the main downfalls of Potter’s West Ham was the style of play, trying to keep possession of the ball too much without really hurting the opposition.
Fans also felt there was a lack of fight and leadership in the group, though Nuno looks to have already addressed this at the London Stadium.
While speaking at his latest press conference on 2 October, Nuno was quizzed on the culture at West Ham after arriving only five days ago.
“That we have to compete times three, this is the main message that’s been passed to me,” he said.
“It’s that we need to compete, we need to be strong, we need to be brave, it’s the West Ham way. Let’s try.”
Historically, Nuno’s teams have always been built from the back, focusing less on possession and more on staying as a tight-knit defensive team that looks to counter-attack.
The culture shift showed in the second half at Everton when West Ham were fearless and contested for every loose ball, as the transition under Nuno will have made even more progress during the week.
West Ham are an entirely different team under Nuno
Despite Nuno having the same players that Potter had, it’s already looking like he will get the most out of the group he’s got.
West Ham numbers against Everton:
- West Ham made 16 tackles to Everton’s 11
- The Hammers were aggressive and picked up 4 yellow cards
- They had less possession than Everton, but created more big chances than the home side
Soungoutou Magassa impressed for West Ham, as Nuno picked the Frenchman for “physicality” as James Ward-Prowse’s future hangs in the balance.
Freddie Potts also enjoyed minutes under Nuno, as the new head coach looks to utilise players that suit the West Ham mentality.
Hopefully, this is on show at the Emirates.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest West Ham United news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account – @westhamzone247