Nuno Espírito Santo has vowed to build strong foundations and strong bonds in the West Ham family in his first interview as the Club’s new Head Coach.
Speaking to West Ham TV at Rush Green training ground on Sunday morning, Nuno spoke of his pride and happiness at his appointment and outlined his initial responsibilities as he gets to know his squad and prepares them for Monday’s Premier League fixture at Everton.
The 51-year-old stated the importance of delivering for the supporters and for the local community, and the supporters’ own integral role in everything he will work to achieve in east London.
As someone who has been immersed in football his whole life and both played and coached the game at the highest level, Nuno spoke of his love and passion for the sport and for coaching in the English Premier League.
A regular winner throughout his illustrious career, Nuno is now channelling all his energy into West Ham United…
Nuno – welcome to West Ham United. How does it feel to be here?
“It feels good. I’m very happy to be here. Honoured and ready to work. I’m glad to face the challenge.”
This is a big Club and a big opportunity for you and for the Club – is that how you feel?
“First of all, what is important is that now we know each other, mainly us, the squad, the players. This is what is more important now. We are here working. We started yesterday (Saturday) realising that this is a big, big Club.
“There are expectations, but before all the expectations, all the achievements that we desire, that we want to do, we must create a platform of knowledge, of coming closer to the fans, the team and the fans. And from there we can start building.”
What are your initial responsibilities as Head Coach?
“I’m trying to, as soon as possible, know all the players. I think I know them better than they know me, because it’s like that. We are coaches and we try to take all the info that we can about the players. Many of them, we faced each other before and now it’s preparing for the game, a tough game against Everton.
“Day by day, and you’ll listen to me many times speaking about this but it’s what I believe, it’s day by day, each day has to be the best one of us.”
How important is the Claret and Blue Army’s role?
“The supporters are very important, very important. That’s why I truly believe what we want to achieve is a platform to be able [to build from]. Now is not the moment to ask the fans. Now is the moment to deliver to the fans. I think we have to give them, so then they can give us back.
“When we have this bond, when other teams come to play against us, it’s going to be hell. But we have to achieve this bond first. We have protect each other, all of us inside of the building, the fans, everybody. Everybody that really cares about West Ham has to protect each other.”
What is it that’s so special about coaching in this country, in the Premier League?
“It’s the best one. It’s the most challenging. It’s where the best players are. It’s what we love, to compete here in the Premier League.”
It is such a totally immersive role being a Premier League head coach. You have to give up so many things. What is it that fuels your passion for the role?
“It’s my life. My life is football since I know myself. So it’s my routine. I wake up, I go to sleep thinking about football. Now in my head is ‘how can I make these players better? How can I improve them?’. If I improve the player, I improve the team. The team will improve the club. So it’s like this.”
What are the things about the game that you played, and as you say it’s been your life, what is it about football that is so special, what fuels your love for the game?
“We love the game. We are here because we love the game, isn’t it? So, what we want to do is to enjoy, but be responsible, be committed. And this is how I take my life – trying to come and help, come to try and give new solutions, new things, things that can make us better.”
You talk about the relationship with the fans, but also with your squad you talked about, and you have players who you know from previous clubs and from the Premier League?
“We know each other, like I said to you before. It’s been many years. We faced [each other] many, many times. We know each other, even as opponents. Like you say [I worked with] Max [Kilman], but now it’s a new beginning for everybody. It’s a new process that we really have to know, and we find out who we are and what we want to be.
“First of all, we have to realise who we are, and then we can create an identity. But first of all, we have to know each other really, really well.”
You have been involved in the local communities at your previous clubs. West Ham is East London. We’ve got a huge community, a very diverse community here. Are you looking forward to being part of a club that’s a family with members from so many different parts of the world?
“Yes, of course. I want to integrate myself, first of all, in the Club, with you (the staff), with all the people here, because we have to become as a family. We have to realise that we are the ones that represent the community. The community sees us as a mirror, as an image that they want to [be], so that’s why we have to make strong values. We have to be respectful to each other.”
