Nuno Espirito Santo remained grounded during his interview with Sky Sports on Friday, reminding everyone that "we still have a big mission to accomplish, a hard job to do." His calm demeanor came after West Ham's convincing 4-0 victory over Wolves, a win that lifted the Hammers out of the relegation zone and ensured they stay clear of the bottom three, even as Tottenham drew with Brighton on Saturday. With a Monday Night Football fixture against Crystal Palace looming, Nuno urged his players to set aside the league table and concentrate on the tasks that lie ahead, game by game. That advice is sensible for a group that has undergone a remarkable transformation in a short period.
West Ham supporters have every reason to feel optimistic. At the beginning of the year, after a loss to Nottingham Forest on January 6, the team sat seven points adrift of safety, while Tottenham enjoyed a comfortable 13‑point cushion.
Since then, a run of five wins in eleven Premier League matches has propelled the Hammers above the crucial safety line, effectively turning the season around. The squad that achieved this revival looks almost entirely different from the one that struggled in the winter months. During the January transfer window, several players departed – Lucas Paquetá, James Ward‑Prowse, Guido Rodríguez, Andriy Irvin, George Elliott, Luis Guilherme and Niclas Füllkrug were all off‑loaded.
In their place, West Ham brought in new faces such as Axel Disasi, Taty Castellanos, Pablo Felip, Adama Traoré and Keiber Lamar‑d. Nuno explained that the club deliberately reduced the squad size and re‑balanced the roster to better suit the style they wanted to adopt for the second half of the campaign.
The statistical shift is evident. From the start of the season until mid‑January, West Ham ranked near the bottom of the league in several key metrics: 17th for goals per game, 19th for big chances created and 16th for possession.
Since that point, the team has surrendered possession, now sitting at the very bottom of the league in that category, but they have become far more potent in attack. They currently sit sixth for both goals per game and big‑chance creation, reflecting a more direct, high‑intensity approach.
Defensively, the Hammers have also tightened up. Since goalkeeper Mads Hermansen returned to the starting XI and the loan signing of centre‑back Disasi bolstered the back line, West Ham have kept four clean sheets in their last eight league fixtures. Their set‑piece vulnerability has been markedly improved as well; the side has conceded just three set‑piece goals in the past eleven games – all in a single encounter with Liverpool – compared with twelve conceded from dead‑ball situations in the preceding twenty‑one matches.
Perhaps the most significant factor behind this resurgence is the growing camaraderie within the squad. Nuno highlighted that the team has come to understand the importance of uniting around a common objective. "If I can point to one particular aspect, I think everybody realised that we have to come together in the same objective," he said. He added that football is a collective sport and that every individual – players, coaches, club staff and fans – must work together to achieve the club’s goals.
That sense of togetherness was on full display in the recent FA Cup quarter‑final against Leeds United. West Ham found themselves trailing 2‑0 deep into stoppage time, yet they managed to pull two goals back to force extra time. Although they ultimately fell short in the penalty shoot‑out, the performance demonstrated the team’s refusal to give up.
"To take it to extra‑time and then to penalties showed that we don't give up, that we cannot give up," Nuno remarked, emphasizing that the players had proved their resolve in front of their supporters. Captain Jarrod Bowen exemplifies that never‑give‑up attitude.
In the Leeds match he struck the woodwork twice and saw his spot‑kick saved, but he bounced back spectacularly by providing two assists in the 4‑0 win over Wolves. Nuno praised Bowen’s influence, saying, "He's been amazing. Jarrod has been huge for us. He leads by example.
The teammates trust him. He's the club captain. It means a lot. He's taking on board this responsibility.
Jarrod doesn't stop for one minute." As West Ham prepare to travel to Selhurst Park for Monday night’s clash with Crystal Palace, the squad is eager to build on the momentum they have generated. Nuno acknowledges that each match now carries heightened pressure, given the proximity to the season’s decisive phase. "Every game is pressure, always pressure," he warned.
"It's increased due to the situation that we are in and we come to this decisive moment of the season, so we expect the best of our players, realising that everything is going to be decided now." In summary, the Hammers have reshaped their roster, altered their tactical philosophy, shored up defensive frailties and, perhaps most importantly, forged a stronger collective spirit. With a rebalanced squad and a clear focus on one game at a time, Nuno and his players are determined to seize the opportunity they have created and secure their Premier League status for another year.