Konstantinos Mavropanos reacts as latest West Ham United transfer announced
One week in football can be a very long time indeed.
After West Ham’s 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest on 6 January, many thought that Nuno Espirito Santo was going to be sacked.
However, David Sullivan decided to stick by Nuno, which was a highly unpopular decision at the time among many West Ham supporters, who had largely been resigned to Premier League relegation.
West Ham’s 2-1 FA Cup win over QPR on 11 January did little to ease the pressure on Nuno, or indeed raise the belief among Hammers fans, but what it did provide was the return of that winning feeling.
Since then, West Ham have gone to Tottenham and won 2-1, before following that up with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Sunderland last Saturday, moving them to within five points of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.
Konstantinos Mavropanos among West Ham players to react to Adama Traore news
As such, in the space of those seven days between the two wins over Spurs and Sunderland, belief has started to return to the London Stadium that a great escape could be on this season.
It’s not going to be easy, as West Ham’s next Premier League test involves travelling to Stamford Bridge this Saturday to play Chelsea.
Following that, a crucial relegation six-pointer against Burnley is scheduled for 7 February, on an afternoon at Turf Moor that could go a long way to deciding the Clarets’ fate if they lose.
However, West Ham have been given another boost to their chances of survival this week, after confirming the signing Adama Traore from Fulham.
Nuno knows Adama from their time spent together at Wolves, and will add lighting pace and a powerful, direct ball-carrying winger to his squad.
West Ham confirmed the signing on Wednesday, and posted a picture of Adama signing his contract to their Instagram account.
Among those to like the post were West Ham pair Konstantinos Mavropanos and Edson Alvarez, who is currently out on loan with Fenerbahce from the Hammers.
West Ham fans will love what Adama has said
When in a relegation battle as fierce as the one West Ham are currently in, the team needs as many players fighting for the cause as possible.
And, judging from Adama’s first words as a West Ham player, that’s precisely what the 30-year-old wideman will do.
Speaking via West Ham’s official club website, the former Barcelona and Aston Villa man dropped some great lines on what he’s hoping to bring to the London Stadium, and about his knowledge of all things West Ham.
“I’m so happy to be here, so happy to help the team the maximum I can and show my quality,” said Adama.
“I’ve been seeing West Ham for a long time. It’s a massive club, a massive fanbase. I’ve been watching since I was young, when I watched a film about West Ham. I know about the fans and how much passion they have.
“My mentality is always to do better. It’s always to improve as a player, to help the team as much as I can and I always say, if I’m the same person as yesterday, it’s one day lost.
“I love the challenges. I think, of course, we have to go game by game. And this is what we’re going to do, trying to do our best. I think everything comes from belief. And I believe we’re going to achieve what we’re looking for.”
Stay up to date this winter with our West Ham transfer tracker. Click to see every done deal at the London Stadium, plus expert reaction from our team of writers.