"Our mission is still far from accomplished, and we have a tough task ahead of us." Nuno Espirito Santo remained cautious when speaking to Sky Sports on Friday, despite his team's 4-0 win over Wolves that lifted them out of the relegation zone. He urged his players to focus on the task at hand, rather than getting distracted by their current position in the table. "Let's ignore the standings and concentrate on our game-by-game approach," he said.
This mindset is likely to remain unchanged, even after Tottenham's draw with Brighton, which ensured West Ham will stay out of the bottom three ahead of their trip to Crystal Palace. While Nuno's message may be prudent for his players, West Ham fans have every reason to be optimistic about their team's recent turnaround.
After being seven points adrift of safety in early January, they have now climbed above the dotted line with five wins in 11 Premier League games. The team has undergone significant changes, with several players leaving in the winter transfer window, including Lucas Paqueta, James Ward-Prowse, and Guido Rodriguez, and new signings like Axel Disasi, Taty Castellanos, and Adama Traore joining the squad. "We reduced our squad size and rebalanced our positions to suit our approach for the second half of the season," Nuno explained.
The shift in style is evident, with West Ham adopting a more aggressive approach, ranking sixth for goals per game and big chances created since January 16. At the back, they have kept 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 Disasi to the defense. Set-piece weaknesses have also been addressed, with only three concessions in the past 11 games.
Nuno attributes the team's success to the bonds formed among the players. "If I had to pinpoint one aspect, it's that everyone has come together with a shared objective," he said. "This is the key to achieving better things. Football is a collective sport, and we're getting closer together, helping each other to achieve our goals." The team's togetherness 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 and eventually penalties.
"We showed that we don't give up, and we cannot give up," Nuno said. Captain Jarrod Bowen sets an example for the team, and his response to the cup tie defeat was to provide two assists in the 4-0 win over Wolves.
"He's been amazing, and the team trusts him," Nuno said. "He leads by example, and his attitude is infectious. We want the whole squad to adopt this mindset - no matter the situation, we keep pushing, believing, and insisting." West Ham will face Crystal Palace on Monday night with renewed confidence and a sense of togetherness. "Every game is pressure, but we expect the best from our players, especially at this decisive moment in the season," Nuno said.