Nuno Espirito Santo remained grounded when speaking to 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 4-0 triumph over Wolves, a victory that lifted the club out of the relegation zone and allowed them to stay clear of the bottom three despite Tottenham's draw with Brighton on Saturday. With that result, the Hammers are set for their Monday Night Football clash against Crystal Palace, and Nuno urged his players to "ignore the table and focus on what we have to do game by game." This approach, he believes, is the most sensible way to keep the squad focused.
Fans have every reason to celebrate the remarkable turnaround West Ham have achieved this season. On 6 January, after a loss to Nottingham Forest, the team sat seven points adrift of safety, while Tottenham were a comfortable 13 points ahead. Since then, five wins in eleven Premier League fixtures have propelled the Hammers above the critical safety line.
The transformation is evident not only in the points tally but also in the composition of the squad. During the winter transfer window, a number of players departed – Lucas Paquetá, James Ward‑Prowse, Guido Rodríguez, Andriy Irvin, George Elliott, Luis Guilherme and Niclas Füllkrug – while new faces such as Axel Disasi, Taty Castellanos, Pablo Felipe, Adama Traoré and Keiber Lamadrid arrived.
"We reduced the numbers in terms of players and rebalanced our squad in terms of positions," Nuno explained. "Basically, that is the way we wanted to approach the second half of the season – a different idea for the latter part of the campaign." The shift in philosophy is reflected in the statistics.
From the start of the campaign until 16 January, West Ham were 17th for goals per game, 19th for big chances created and 16th for possession. Since that date, the team has surrendered possession – now ranking 20th in the league – but has become far more incisive, sitting sixth for both goals per game and big chances created as they head into the next round of matches. Defensively, the Hammers have also tightened up. Since goalkeeper Mads Hermansen returned to the starting line‑up and loan signing Disasi solidified the back line, West Ham have kept four clean sheets in their last eight Premier League games.
Their set‑piece vulnerability has been dramatically reduced; they have conceded only three set‑piece goals in the past eleven matches – all in a single game against Liverpool – compared with twelve conceded from dead‑ball situations in the preceding twenty‑one games. Perhaps the most important factor, according to Nuno, is the growing cohesion among the players.
"If I can point to one particular aspect, I think everybody realised that we have to come together around the same objective," he said. "Football is a collective sport. Everyone is needed – the squad, the coaching staff, the club employees, the fans.
We are getting closer together, helping each other to achieve what we want to achieve." That sense of unity was on display in the FA Cup quarter‑final against Leeds United. West Ham found themselves 2‑0 down deep into stoppage time, yet they fought back to force extra time, eventually taking the tie to a penalty shoot‑out. Though they ultimately lost, the comeback demonstrated a refusal to give up.
Nuno highlighted the performance as evidence of the team's character: "To take it to extra‑time and then to penalties showed that we don't give up, that we cannot give up. Not only in words – we showed it in front of our fans. We cannot allow ourselves to ever give up.
Never give up." Captain Jarrod Bowen epitomised that attitude. After striking the woodwork twice in the cup tie and seeing his spot‑kick saved, Bowen responded by providing two assists in the 4‑0 victory over Wolves.
"He's been amazing. Jarrod has been huge for us," Nuno praised.
"He leads by example. The teammates trust him. He's the club captain – it means a lot. He embraces that responsibility and never stops." Bowen will once again lead a rejuvenated West Ham side at Selhurst Park on Monday night.
The squad is aware of the pressure that each fixture brings, especially as the season reaches its decisive phase. "Every game is pressure, always pressure," Nuno admitted. "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, realising that everything is going to be decided now." With a rebalanced roster, a clearer tactical identity, and a renewed sense of togetherness, the Hammers aim to seize the opportunity they have carved out and continue their fight for survival in the Premier League.