Nuno Espirito Santo believes last weekend's win at Tottenham has added a little extra punch to training at Rush Green this week.
The morale-boosting 2-1 win in north London reduced the gap between West Ham and the rest of the Premier League to five points, with a home match against newly-promoted Sunderland to come this weekend.However West Ham's Head Coach insisted he wants more from his squad as a whole as the Irons seek a third successive win in all competitions against the Black Cats this weekend.
Find out everything Nuno said in his pre-match presser below...
Q: Let's start with the club announcing a new signing today in Keiber Lamadrid. Can you just tell us a little bit more about him, I noticed a youngster on a loan with an option?
NES: Yeah, he's a young player the club bring [to east London]. He's in pre-season. He's not really ready to play but we will assess him and see.
Q: How important is it that the club - as well as trying to bring players in in this window to help you right now - are still looking long term and looking for the future?
NES: The club does normally see players for the future, young players that can help us. The focus now is now - how important is our situation and the players. The club knows the profiles that we need, they need to rebalance the squad. Tati came in, Pablo came in, they bring us a lot of options, energy and we keep working. Still nine days to go in the on the transfer window. Still working.
Q: If you had a magic ball...
NES: ...I don't have!
Q: Hypothetically, if there's a magic ball, how many and what sort of quality are you looking for between now and the end of the window?
NES: The profiles are clear, since we started working [on the window]. We need to rebalance and give more options. Of course I'm not going to tell to you what positions because that will create noise, but we are working. We are working and it's like I said, there's still nine days to go.
Q: Also options internally too. Callum Wilson's been talked about a lot during this window. You've signed two forwards already. His impact off the bench, scoring that winning goal [at Tottenham] meant so much to the club. How important is it that the club actually keep hold of him during this window?
NES: Callum gave us the winning goal in a match that we can see was so important and special for our fans and that was beautiful to see. I was happy to take those three points. Like I said, Callum is an option and we know what Callum can give us. He's working and is available, so he's an important player.
Q: Is there anyway he would potentially leave in this window?
NES: Look, you never know. You never know what's going to happen. Meanwhile, the transfer window is open and so many surprises can happen. What can I say? The players that are here in the building, we are counting on them.
Q: James Ward-Prowse...
NES: ...The same. The same.
Q: Are you counting on him because you haven't used him at all yet, but is there an opportunity that he can be brought back into the first team reckoning?
NES: He is with us. I've been very honest and very direct with James regarding this situation. Now he is with us, so any rumours are not on our minds. Our mind is that we know the players here are going to be very important. All of them.
Q: There is talk that the two clubs, West Ham and Burnley, have been talking and discussing James Ward-Prowse to potentially move. I'm trying to understand why West Ham would hold talks with Burnley over James Ward Prowse considering both sides are battling relegation. Is that something on your mind? Would you as a manager step in...
NES: We are talking about rumours and rumours are noise. Rumours are things that are not for us to address. When it's something real, we will address it. Rumours? What can I say about rumours?
Q: Would you want him to go to a relegation [rival]?
NES: Like I said to you, me and James had a conversation and we are clear. James is here. He worked today. And if he works tomorrow, it's going to be the same with all the players that are here. I don't waste time on rumours. I don't waste time on speculation, because it doesn't mean anything.
Q: Lucas Paqueta. I know last week you said we've got to try and find a solution?
NES: The situation is the same as last week. We hope that the club and Lucas find a solution. You know my opinion about Lucas, it's already been said in this room, but for this game against Sunderland he is not going to be in the squad.
Q: Re the squad, is there a timeline for that?
NES: We have to deal day by day. We Have to deal with the Lucas situation day by day.
Q: And how's he feeling mentally right now? Because we know it's been a tough period for him, he's been quite open about how he's been...
NES: Yeah. And all the things that happened in the past created so many problems individually. Now that is finished, like I said, I hope Lucas and the club find a solution so we can move forward from that issue.
Q: Is there any other team news? Are any other players struggling at all?
NES: Yeah, we always have knocks to assess, but we still have tomorrow to prepare for the game and then we'll decide the squad.
Q: The atmosphere in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was great for the travelling West Ham fans, hearing the home fans boo and singing that their manager is getting sacked in the morning. You can see the impact that can have on a group. Tthat being said, how much do you need the West Ham fans on it this weekend? To keep the momentum that you've built over the last week going, in a game that against Sunderland where it feels like you have a great opportunity to pick up another three points?
NES: We need them and we need them from minute one. From the beginning of the game. As long as the team gives back, we know that we can count on our fans. So hopefully Saturday is going to be a good day for us.
Q: A big win last weekend against Spurs after a long time looking for that that win. Has there been a change in the atmosphere around the training camp since then? Have you noticed the mood perhaps lifted?
NES: Yes, of course. When you perform well and you win, the week is good and the boys have been working really, really hard preparing the match. So it helps. It helps when we try to build something. Results are basic.
Q: And would you prefer this match to have come sooner?
NES: No, it comes at the right moment. One week Is the right moment. We prepare still tomorrow and Saturday we play.
Q: What is key when you kick off? You said you needed the fans from minute one against Sunderland, but what's key for the players to make sure that they take what they achieved last weekend, a last minute win, and they take it straight into...
NES: Energy from the beginning. Energy. Play. Compete. Fight for every ball. Put up a good fight against a tough opponent. You have to do it from the beginning.
Q: You talked before about Callum Wilson being an option. You've also brought into other new strikers and they've had a few games to acclimatise so far. Early assessment, how have they settled?
NES: I think they are helping a lot. They are good options, talented players, hard workers and we expect much more from them.
Q: An interesting phrase. You said you expect much more from them. After Summerville got his goal - he's scored in each of the last two matches - you were asked after the Tottenham game about this form and you said you still expect more. Can you just expand on that?
NES: More consistency, instead of one or two goals, instead of one or two assists. We want more because we know that the talent is there. This is what we try to give to our players, so that they produce more, they help more, they work more. It's always more. We are pushing them because the situation requires it. We need more and more and more.
Q: Is that something you drum into them day after day on the training ground? How do you extract that little bit more out of them? And is it something that they acknowledge as well that are they telling you?
NES: All of us are aware of the needs that we have. So that's why when I say more, it's exactly that - we want more. We want more action, we want more commitment. That doesn't mean that doesn't happen. We want more because in this situation we require much more from each other.
Q: It's a different sort of fixture this time around. Last weekend you came up against a Tottenham team which has been struggling, next is a Sunderland side that's having a really good season back in the Premier League. What have you made of them and where do that threats come from?
NES: They have a very good team and they are working really well. They've prepared well for the challenge of coming into the Premier League. They've bought good players and they are playing very well. It's a very tough opponent.
Q: Just in terms of their football, or is it the fact that they're hard to beat, or are you impressed by the level...
NES: All the teams in the Premier League are hard to beat. We cannot expect an easy game, Sunderland have talent. They have organization. For energy, they are really strong on the duels, a physical team. You know what you're going to face. That's what I say it will require much more from us.
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