Nuno Makes Building the Hammers Identity His Number One Focus
Nuno Espírito Santo believes it will require patience to develop a unique playing style at West Ham United. The former Nottingham Forest manager, who is getting accustomed to his recent appointment, wants to connect with the team’s heritage on an emotional level.
Absorbing the Team Identity
Hired after the sudden exit of his predecessor, Nuno revealed that experienced club employees have been educating him about life at West Ham. When asked about his interpretation of the famous “West Ham way”, he beamed and admitted that it carries various meanings—many fans view it as gung-ho football, while others value passion and resilience.
“This is what I’m trying to understand day by day,” he said. “It’s not just understanding—it must be felt. It takes time to absorb it. Once we feel it, we need to make it part of us.”
He emphasized that emotion is crucial, rather than mental comprehension. When it comes to philosophy and identity, Nuno conceded they are a long way off from making it a reality. “Merely talking about the ‘West Ham way’—we must build it, we must feel it.”
Starting Period and Future Challenges
His time in charge began with an promising share of the points at Everton. Inquired about the distance he is to establishing a clear style, he responded, “I think not very close. It’s challenging and demands effort from everyone at the club. But it’s a priority.”
There is often a expectation from followers for attacking play. The former manager, the most successful modern-era coach, came under pressure due to his pragmatic approach. Those who followed had difficulties transforming the team’s style in the years following his exit.
Playing Philosophy and Player Roles
Now, it falls to Nuno to determine whether points are more important than entertainment. The Hammers have let in 14 goals in the opening six fixtures and currently sit in a low position.
“What shapes the style of play is not the coach,” Nuno stated. “The team itself that influences how we play. We must find a balance between the two phases of play. We cannot going forward without structure, since that opens up spaces for the opposition. We must defend and organize, yet still focusing on what we do once we have the ball.”
Squad Updates
The club could welcome back key defenders for the upcoming fixture at Arsenal. In addition, the head coach left the door open a comeback chance for a former regular who was omitted in the previous game. The player had a brief stint under the manager earlier, though his loan spell was concluded prematurely.
