West Ham's head coach has stated that West Ham’s players are eager to evolve and have accepted blame for the club's disappointing results over the past 18 months.
Nuno, who is the club’s third manager since the previous manager departed at the conclusion of the previous campaign, is aiming to shift the mood in the dressing room after replacing his predecessor last weekend. The London club have been lacking guidance, and there is a general acceptance among the players that they played a role to Potter losing his position after eight months.
“I find a good team of people,” the manager stated. “They are starting to realise that we must improve things. If we don’t change, results will remain unchanged. They are ready to adapt. I can see it. Therefore, let's embrace it and transform it.”
“It goes from technical, tactical, physical, mindset, discipline, dialogue. Clear communication is a vital asset for us. We still don’t have it fully. It has to be a fair and transparent exchange that we share. They have held themselves accountable and are prepared to go.”
Nuno's Current Priorities
Nuno has had minimal opportunity to settle in. He hasn't assembled his coaching team yet, and the former Forest manager is not thinking about what the team, in 19th place before facing Arsenal on the weekend, can achieve this campaign. “My role is straightforward,” Nuno said. “It’s the immediate future.”
Defensive Issues for the Hammers
A significant concern for the coach is bolstering his side’s defending at set pieces. West Ham have shipped multiple goals from corner kicks this season – the most recent goal allowed came in his debut, Monday’s tie at Everton – and will be under sustained scrutiny from dead balls against their upcoming rivals. The worry for him is that it becomes a mental problem.
“That's possible,” he said. “But we will attempt to avoid it. The worst thing that can happen is that if an rival gets a set-piece, we start immediately thinking that we are in trouble. It can become a psychological block.”
