"Our mission is still far from accomplished, and we have a tough task ahead," Nuno Espirito Santo stated in an interview with Sky Sports on Friday. His team had just defeated Wolves 4-0, moving out of the relegation zone, and he was determined to keep his players grounded. The outcome of Tottenham's draw with Brighton on Saturday, which ensured West Ham would remain out of the bottom three, did not alter his mindset. Nuno urged his players to ignore the league table and concentrate on their upcoming games.
This approach may be wise for his team, but West Ham fans have every reason to be optimistic about their team's current position. The turnaround has been remarkable, with the team rising above the relegation zone after being seven points behind in early January. The winter transfer window saw significant changes, with players like Lucas Paqueta and James Ward-Prowse leaving and newcomers like Axel Disasi and Taty Castellanos joining. Nuno explained that the squad had been rebalanced to better suit their approach for the second half of the season.
The results are evident, with West Ham adopting a new style of play that has yielded more goals and big chances. Since January 16, they have ranked sixth in goals per game and big chances created. The team has also become more solid defensively, keeping four clean sheets in their last eight Premier League games. Nuno attributes the improvement to the bonds formed among the players.
"If I can point to one particular aspect, I think everybody realised that we have to come together in the same objective," he said. This unity was on display in their recent FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Leeds, where they came back from 2-0 down to take the game to extra-time.
Captain Jarrod Bowen sets an example for the team, leading by example and taking responsibility as club captain. Nuno praised Bowen, saying, "He's been amazing.
Jarrod has been huge for us... He leads by example. The team-mates trust him." West Ham will face Crystal Palace on Monday night with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to take on the challenges ahead and seize the opportunity they have created for themselves.