"We still have a significant task ahead of us, a challenging job to accomplish." Nuno Espirito Santo remained cautious when speaking with Sky Sports on Friday. This mindset came after his team defeated Wolves 4-0, moving them out of the relegation zone, and it's likely to remain unchanged despite Tottenham's draw with Brighton, which ensures West Ham will stay out of the bottom three before their Monday Night Football match against Crystal Palace. "Let's focus on our tasks, game by game, and try to ignore the league table," he advised.
This message may be sensible for his players, but West Ham fans have every right to enjoy their team's current position. The turnaround has been substantial and impressive. On January 6, after losing to Nottingham Forest, they were seven points away from safety, while Spurs were 13 points ahead.
However, with five wins in 11 Premier League games, West Ham has surpassed the crucial dotted line and now sits above it. The team has undergone significant changes, especially after the winter transfer window, which saw the departures of Lucas Paqueta, James Ward-Prowse, Guido Rodriguez, Andry Irving, George Earthy, Luis Guilherme, and Niclas Fullkrug.
In their place, West Ham welcomed Axel Disasi, Taty Castellanos, Pablo Felip, Adama Traore, and Keiber Lamadrid. "We reduced our squad size and rebalanced our positions to fit our approach for the second half of the season," Nuno explained. "It's a different idea from what we had previously, and it's tailored to our needs for the remainder of the season." The shift in style is evident.
From August to January 16, West Ham ranked 17th in goals per game, 19th in big chances created, and 16th in possession. Since then, they've adopted a more direct approach, ranking sixth in goals per game and big chances created, while possession has taken a backseat, with the team now ranking 20th in that metric. By giving their front players more freedom and confidence, West Ham has become more dangerous, while their defense has improved, with four clean sheets in their last eight Premier League games, thanks in part to the return of Mads Hermansen in goal and the addition of loan signing Disasi to the defense.
The team has also addressed its set-piece weaknesses, conceding only three goals from these situations in their last 11 games, all of which came in a single match against Liverpool. Previously, they had let in 12 set-piece goals in 21 matches. Perhaps the key to West Ham's success, however, lies in the bonds formed among the players.
"If I had to point to one aspect, I think everyone realized that we need to come together to achieve our objectives," said Nuno. "That's the main point that I believe will allow us to achieve better things.
This is the core of our job. Football is a collective sport, and everyone is needed – the squad, coaching staff, club staff, and fans. We're getting closer together, helping each other to achieve what we want." This togetherness was on display in their recent FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Leeds on penalties.
West Ham looked down and out, trailing 2-0 going into second-half stoppage time, but they managed to find two goals to take it to extra-time and ultimately fell short in the shootout. "Taking it to extra-time and then to penalties showed that we don't give up, that we cannot give up," said Nuno. "Not just words – we showed it.
We showed it in front of our fans. We cannot allow ourselves to ever give up.
Never give up." Captain Jarrod Bowen sets the example. He hit the woodwork twice during that cup tie and then saw his spot-kick saved. His response was two assists in the thrashing of Wolves.
"He's been amazing. Jarrod has been huge for us," says Nuno. "He leads by example. His teammates trust him.
He's the club captain, and it means a lot. He's taking on the responsibility. "Jarrod doesn't stop for one minute. "This is the main message that we want as a squad to see.
Look, no matter which situation we are in, we keep giving it, we keep insisting, we keep believing. And Jarrod is the proof of that." Bowen will lead out a rejuvenated West Ham team at Selhurst Park on Monday night, a team ready to take on the difficulty of their situation and seize the opportunity they have managed to carve out – together. "Every game is pressure, always pressure," says Nuno. "It's increased due to the situation we are in and we come to this decisive moment of the season, so we expect the best of our players, realizing that everything is going to be decided now." Play Super 6 for a chance to win £250k!
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