Head Coach Nuno Espírito Santo thanked his West Ham United players, staff and the Claret and Blue Army for their support, energy, commitment and warm welcome following Monday’s 1-1 Premier League draw at Everton.
The Portuguese was appointed on Saturday and has had just two training sessions with his squad, working with Academy of Football coaches Mark Robson, Steve Potts, Gerard Prenderville and Billy Lepine to prepare them for the trip to Merseyside.
Everyone rose to the occasion as the Irons became the first visiting team to deny Everton victory at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium, where Jarrod Bowen’s trademark second-half equaliser cancelled out Michael Keane’s first-half header.
Nuno’s resilient side had opportunities to win the game late on, as did David Moyes’ Blues, and speaking to West Ham TV after the game the new Head Coach was proud of the togetherness shown and the loud and constant support the fans gave from the stands.
I said in my first interview [on Sunday] that we have to be a team that has to give fans a reason and I think the boys did it.
[There were some] good things and some not so good things, but a lot of things that we have to work on.
But like I said, the message was simple: ‘Let's compete, every ball is important. Let's be pragmatic when we have to be pragmatic and let's take advantage of what we have up front’, but the work-rate overall of the team was good.
It was a good reaction [after falling behind].
I think it was important. I think in the second half we came out on the front foot, the desire was there. So, it was a good reaction.
[Everyone has pulled together and] that's what we want, to create a platform of unity, of knowledge among us so we can help them (the players).
The Academy staff and coaching staff have been very helpful because they feel what is the Club, what is important for us.
We cannot thank the supporters enough.
I think in the end the boys were there and the fans also.
This bond, bringing the fans closer to us, is a priority.
Now we have to rest, the players have to recover.
It's a quick turnaround and then we're going to prepare the next one [at Arsenal on Saturday afternoon]. It's going to be a tough one, but we've got to go.
