Nuno Espírito Santo was in determined mood as he met the media ahead of West Ham United’s Premier League fixture with Newcastle United.
The Hammers welcome the Magpies to London Stadium on Sunday afternoon – tickets are available HERE – eager to earn Nuno’s first win as Head Coach and end a winless run at home that has gone on far longer than anyone in Claret and Blue is happy about.
Nuno’s overall message was that his players simply must compete better on the pitch in all areas and win their individual duels to give the team the best possible chance of winning football matches and winning the support of their fans.
The Head Coach also talked about his recent team selections and his admiration for the job opposite number Eddie Howe is doing at Newcastle.
Here are all the main talking points…
It was a long week but a good week
It has been a long week, but at the same time, good week. I think we had a chance to work and work good. The players have committed themselves to the work, so we expect to see improvements.
It's not easy [to discuss the Leeds performance], but it has to be addressed. We have to be aware of the situation that we are in and react to it.
Finding the right solutions
[Recent results and performances is] something that doesn't please us, something that personally I don't like.
I would like to have found a solution earlier and stick to it, but I think it's our obligation to try and find the solutions because the team is not producing.
We started with Andy Irving and Tomáš Souček against Leeds, and it didn't quite work. Second half was better, so we are still looking. I hope that we can solve all the problems faster than we are solving them.
[We drew at Everton] then we went to Arsenal, basically the same [selection], it didn't work out. Then came the international break, we had players come an there were many things that we thought would work for the team.
We should have a conversation. Maybe I can explain to you, it's going to take a very long time. But honestly, I wish that we can stick with one [approach] and the team clicks and it goes well so we can move forward.
I like routines, unfortunately we are not able to do it and it's not easy for the players also.
I hope someday we find the team clicks, we play good, we compete well and we stick with it.
We need Paquetá to be our No10
I have spoken about many things with Lucas. Many things, some that I cannot share, but basically, we need Lucas.
I'm going to share something that I really believe and I told him personally and I told all the squad and the team. Being a number 10 is more than a number. In my view, being a 10 is a symbol. You know what I mean? A number 10. When you see number 10, it's a symbol, and this is what we need from Lucas. The best of him. For him to really his the teammates because his teammates trust him a lot.
They know that there's much more for him to give us, with the talent that he has. We need our number 10.
It doesn't help. It doesn't help, all the noise. All the situation that he's been through doesn't help. Finally, it ends. But at the same time, comes the rumours that he’s going to [leave the Club].
All these rumours, especially the situation that we are in, doesn't help. It doesn't help. (2:08) I think we have to protect ourselves and try to shield all the noise outside, rumours of players going out in the transfer window. Let's try to ignore all of them so we can work in a better way.
[The situation is] exactly what I said to you. Look, when we are in this situation, all the rumours, also people outside that doesn't want the best for West Ham themselves [speaking] doesn't help. But all the rumours, you don't have to address it.
We have too many things to be worried about and concerned and committed to solve. This is our priority.
He's here today, he's going to be here tomorrow, he's going to play on Sunday and help his teammates to produce a good game.
We are working to improve the players individually
We are working really hard on that aspect (dynamism and athleticism). That's why we are creating a dynamic inside here at the training ground of small groups that we can improve both physically, technically, at the same time individual aspects of the game. So we have more time to work on that.
We must improve the players individually. Many of them, and they know, are performing under their real quality. So this is what we are doing. We are doing really, really hard and focused work on individual development.
My priority is to improve these players, improve our squad, starting individually and then starting with small groups by lines, defence, midfielders, attackers. Everybody has to improve individually, then we can connect and look for the complicity, but individual performers must help us
Wilson working hard
He’s a top professional. He’s understood the decisions we’ve taken before, and his attitude hasn’t changed at all.
Callum is committed to the squad, and to helping us. I think he has experience that is valuable for our team, so he can help us in these moments.
Bowen leading the way
He’s massively important for us. He’s one of the top players in England, and he’s someone we need to gel and to bring the other players to the same state of mind and desire.
We want the players to rely on each other, and have mutual confidence in each other. That’s something that we’re working on also.
We need to be strong at home
Our home form is a reality. It's what it is. We cannot hide ourselves.
Again, I said it's our responsibility. I hope it starts in the warm-up, a good warm-up that can connect the people, can connect our fans. When the game starts and the fans see the team go, also the environment, the back-up, the noise.
But it's up to us. It's up to us. That's why we are so committed to start and changing what has been our home form because we need to be strong at home.
But more than anything, we need to compete.
Newcastle are a very good team
I’ve known Eddie [Howe] for some time now, and for sure we’re going to face a very good team who are in a good moment.
I think they’ve started the season with some draws, but recently they’ve been producing fantastic results and performances, so we know it’s going to be a challenge.
Eddie has a fantastic squad, and he is doing a great job of getting the best out of them. Against them on Sunday, we need to sustain our level of performance for longer than we have been, and compete from the start.
Eye on the Academy
I’ve seen what they are doing, and it’s been good. The Academy is very important to us at West Ham, and we need them.
