Nuno Makes Creating the Hammers Identity His Number One Focus
The new West Ham manager is convinced it will require patience to develop a unique playing style at the London club. The former Nottingham Forest manager, who is adjusting to his latest role, wants to bond with the club’s culture on an personal level.
Learning the Club’s Ethos
Brought in after the recent dismissal of the previous manager, Nuno revealed that longstanding staff have been bringing him up to speed about what it means to be a Hammer. In response to a query about his interpretation of the team’s historic philosophy, he grinned and acknowledged that it is interpreted differently—for some it’s as attacking play, while other emphasize fighting spirit.
“This is what I’m working to grasp on a daily basis,” he explained. “It’s more than understanding—the emotion is essential. Patience is required to internalize it. When it becomes part of us, we must embody it fully.”
He highlighted that passion is crucial, instead of mental comprehension. On the topic of style and culture, Nuno stated they are still far from realizing it. “It’s not enough the ‘West Ham way’—we have to develop it, we must feel it.”
Early Days and Future Challenges
Nuno’s tenure kicked off with an promising equal result on the road. Inquired about how close he is to establishing a clear style, he replied, “Personally, I feel very far. It’s difficult and requires a collective push at the club. However, it’s our main focus.”
There is often a expectation from followers for attacking play. The former manager, the most successful modern-era coach, eventually faced pressure due to his defensive mindset. Subsequent managers had difficulties altering the team’s style in the years following his exit.
Style of Play and Player Roles
The responsibility now lies with Nuno to determine whether winning are more important than attractive football. The team have let in a high number of goals in their first six fixtures and are languishing in 19th place.
“What determines the way we play is not the coach,” he explained. “The team itself that decides our style. We need to achieve harmony between offense and defense. We cannot going forward without structure, since that opens up spaces for our opponents. We must maintain defensive shape, while also focusing on our plan when we recover the ball.”
Team News
The club could welcome back first-team members ahead of the next fixture at Arsenal. Furthermore, Nuno hinted at a possible recall for a seasoned player who was left out in the most recent fixture. The player previously worked under the manager earlier, however his loan spell was cut short.
