Nuno Espirito Santo was ion good spirits as he looked ahead to West Ham's latest test -a trip to west London for the final away derby of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.
And the Head Coach took questions on squad availability, his MotM nomination, balancing expectations, set pieces and Callum Wilson amongst other subjects in his latest pre-match press conference - every word from which we bring you below.Q: How are the teams doing in terms of injuries? Is everyone well?
NES: Yes, small knocks, but it seems like everybody's going to be okay.
Q: That's good to hear. Now, I wanted to talk to you about last weekend. What an incredible end to that game! And when you have moments like that, Callum Wilson scoring that late goal, how much more confidence does it give you in the team that you can complete your mission to stay in the Premier League this season?
NES: It was a big boost for us. We're so happy and like you said, it increases the level of confidence, but at the same time realising it's going to be a new game against Brentford, a tough team. But this was a big boost for us.
Q: You've done so much over the last month to put yourselves in the driving seat when it comes to this relegation battle. How do you make sure you stay in the driving seat?
NES: We have to perform well. First of all, we have to prepare ourselves well and the boys are doing it. We still have tomorrow and then compete against a tough team. That's our priority, always trying to maintain our levels of performance.
Q: And mentally, it's a difficult place to be in because every game does mean so much. But how do you balance making sure you celebrate moments like the weekend and appreciate what they mean for the team, but then quickly get back to the task at hand?
NES: This was our job this week, to prepare the boys. Understanding that the finish was good that allows us to keep on going and trying to achieve the job that we have in our hands.
Q: I don't know if you've seen, but you've been nominated for Premier League Manager of the Month. Firstly, congratulations.
NES: Thank you, thank you.
Q: And secondly, what does that say about yourself, but also how much the team have achieved in the last month?
NES: I think it says to everybody, not only ourselves here at Rush Green, but our fans also. I think one of the things that we should be proud of is that they are improving our connection, our relationship. So this is a club nomination.
Q: Brentford, you mentioned earlier, they are going to be a tough team to beat because of course they're also fighting for a first-ever European spot. When both teams are fighting for something so important, how intense does that make the game?
NES: All the games in the Premier League are intense. No matter what we are fighting for, it's always the responsibility of being in the best league of the world. So it's going to be tough and we are preparing ourselves for Brentford.
Q: I want to ask you about an announcement the club made yesterday. Interim CEO Karim Virami has been appointed, he's somebody, obviously, who is familiar with the club, having worked here previously. How important is it to have him in that position and also, how important is it to have somebody who knows the club?
NES: It's very important. I was just with him today. I met him today and the message between ourselves was clear: let's do everything that we can to support the team and accomplish our main goal.
Q: On Saturday, how big a part do you think set pieces could play in that game against Brentford?
NES: Not only because they are really good on that aspect of the game, but we can see the importance of set pieces to the league, the amount of goals that are scored. I think we are being positive and confident that we can handle the situation, the boys have been doing a good task but Brentford it's not only the set pieces that they have, because they have a good team and good players, but they create a lot of problems.
Q: Obviously, the game in the FA Cup between the two teams was really close and went down to penalties. What do you think you can take away from that game going to this on Saturday?
NES: We know ourselves, Brentford know us and we know Brentford, but I think we could take some examples of the way that Brentford does things. They are very intense, very physical. It's a reference for us, but knowing that it's going to be new, kind of new things will happen.
Q: I want to talk about Callum Wilson. I interviewed him after the goal against Everton and he was very humble in talking about his role in the team. He said he's tried to be a role model for younger players in the squad and tried to stay professional during the week and just sort of bide and wait for his time. I just wondered, how have you kept the players who don't start every match happy and feeling part of the group? And doing what Callum has done where he comes on and he can score a match winner?
NES: It's all it's very difficult and sometimes very unfair that we cannot put every player on to start the game. Many of our players deserve more minutes, deserve to play, deserve to start but since we arrived, it's been our priority, knowing that everybody's important. It doesn't matter how many minutes you play, but the task that you have in your hands. Callum is one of the players that for sure deserves more than we've been giving to him, and he's giving back 1,000 times more. He's been giving goals that are points for us, and that's so crucial and we are delighted. Callum is an example of what the player should understand: not everybody can start, but everybody can play a big part.
Q: Congratulations on last weekend on the Manager of the Month nomination.
NES: Thank you.
Q: It just shows what a job you've done at this place to have got a nomination of Manager of the Month when there are manager's going for the title, and you're in the mix for it.
NES: It's not a nomination for myself, there are a lot of people involved. Like I mentioned I think it's a club nomination because it's up to us, everybody can play, can help. So being nominated is a reflection of, first of all, for most, the hard work that the boys have been and putting on the grass for the recent games. I think in our character, the way we are competing shows and speaks a lot of about ourselves.
Q: I know you don't like to give yourself a lot of credit or necessarily even your coaching staff, you'd like to include everybody, but it's clear the players here now have big smiles on their faces, which maybe they didn't have when you walked in. So you must have weaved your magic wand in some way?
NES: No, no! I think the results have helped a lot in terms of atmosphere and no matter what, we have to stick together. We've been through tough moments and possibly the smiles were not there, but the respect was present every day, realising that it's up to us to change things. And we've been able to slowly change. Like you said, the players have a smile on their faces which makes everything easier in terms of, of trying to implement the ideas that we want.
Q: Last Saturday was very, very nerve wracking for everybody and not least because you were playing at the same time as Spurs. People, certainly fans in the stadium would have known what was going on at both grounds. For the next couple of weeks at least, you play first. Spurs play after you. What complexities does that bring to the mentality of your team, because there's different pressure in in playing first, isn't it?
NES: I don't consider it like that. We try to isolate from that aspect, whether you play after, before, at the same time. It's up to us, we try to shield our players, our team inside their task on the pitch because you cannot control what is going on outside. As long as we keep focusing on ourselves I think we can do better.
Q: And do you encourage your players to watch the Spurs game the day after, or is it up to them or if they want to just go and walk the dog and not know what's going on?
NES: Everyone is free to do whatever they want! Me for sure. I'm going to watch the game. Some players will watch the game. But you cannot get away from the priority, believe me, it's what you do.
Q: My last question is slightly off topic. I saw a report this week that means UEFA might want clubs to make sure next season they always play one Under 21 player, start one Under 21 player in a match day. West Ham have done that this season, you've had lots of Under 21 players - Mayers, Scarles, Kante... Generally is that good for the game to have it as a rule that you have to play Under 21 players, youth players, or would you rather have the option?
NES: I think it makes more sense having the option, not the obligation. It'ss one of the things that I think it's helpful, that you look at the our Academy, see the prospect that you are coming, but at the same time you have to really judge which is the best moment to put the boy on the pitch how you can go along this development, not to rush things. So if it becomes an obligation it can be counterproductive. I don't know how many we have in our squad, but we have a young squad so I think we'll be good.
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