Nuno Espírito Santo Declares Creating the Hammers Philosophy His Top Focus
Nuno Espírito Santo believes it will take time to establish a unique playing style at the London club. The former Nottingham Forest manager, who is settling in to his recent appointment, aims to connect with the team’s heritage on an deeper level.
Learning the West Ham Way
Hired after the sudden exit of his predecessor, Nuno explained that experienced club employees have been educating him about the club’s inner workings. In response to a query about his understanding of the famous “West Ham way”, he smiled and acknowledged that it is interpreted differently—some see it as attacking play, while others value heart and determination.
“This is what I’m working to grasp day by day,” Nuno commented. “It’s not just knowing—it must be felt. It takes time to absorb it. When it becomes part of us, we must embed it within.”
He emphasized that emotion is what counts, instead of theoretical knowledge. On the topic of style and culture, Nuno conceded they are a long way off from making it a reality. “Merely talking about the ‘West Ham way’—we have to develop it, we must feel it.”
Early Days and Future Challenges
His time in charge kicked off with an promising share of the points away to Everton. When asked about the proximity he is to forming a recognizable philosophy, he responded, “I think quite distant. It’s difficult and requires total commitment at the club. But it’s a priority.”
Commonly, supporters have a demand from the fanbase for entertaining style. The former manager, the club’s top modern-era coach, eventually faced pressure due to his defensive mindset. Later coaches also struggled altering the on-field approach in the years following his exit.
On-Field Approach and Player Roles
Nuno has been tasked to choose whether winning are a higher priority than entertainment. The Hammers have let in 14 goals in the opening six Premier League games and currently sit in the relegation zone.
“What shapes the way we play is not the coach,” he explained. “It depends on the players that decides how we play. We need to achieve harmony between offense and defense. We cannot going forward without structure, as that opens up spaces for our opponents. We must defend and organize, but always prioritizing what we do once we have the ball.”
Team News
The club might have available first-team members for the upcoming fixture at Arsenal. Furthermore, the manager left the door open a potential return for a former regular who was not included in the most recent fixture. The player spent some time under Nuno last season, however his loan spell was cut short.
