West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo and Lucas Paqueta both focused in split image
Credit: Imago
Kyrenia Shipillis
Tue 28 October 2025 16:10, UK
West Ham fans have seen a version of Lucas Paqueta this season that most will want to forget.
Paqueta was the best out of a bad bunch in West Ham’s 2-1 defeat to Leeds United in the Premier League on Friday.
It has been a similar story for most of the season, with one of his better games coming during West Ham’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in August.
However, after a string of poor results and inconsistent performances from the Brazilian and the Hammers, Nuno Espirito Santo has come under pressure at West Ham, but the Irons are keen to back him for a little while longer.
As a result, the former Forest manager will be hoping that someone swoops in to save his season, and there is reason to believe that Paqueta could be his knight in shining armour.
Lucas Paqueta celebrating for West Ham by holding his hands to his ears
credit: Imago
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Lucas Paqueta is receiving more touches this season
One thing that managers want more than anything in football is to get their best players on the ball as much as possible, unless you’re Erling Haaland, of course, and Nuno is no different.
Indeed, Paqueta has averaged 68.9 touches in the Premier League this season, which is 10 more than the 58.6 he had last season, according to Sofascore.
This has been a trend throughout the season, with his best-rated game on the site being West Ham’s devastating 5-1 defeat to Chelsea earlier this period.
Paqueta had 73 touches against Chelsea
He completed 91 per cent of his passes
The Brazilian netted a goal and made one key pass
However, he has also had ample touches in some of his poorer games, including the Hammers’ 1-1 draw to Everton.
Paqueta had 75 touches against the Toffees
Only three of his touches were unsuccessful
He made three key passes
The reason for his inconsistency could be several reasons, but the team’s performance and changes in coach and tactics likely wouldn’t have helped.
Lucas Paqueta's 2024/25 and 2025/26 Premier League seasons
Paqueta’s 2024/25 and 2025/26 Premier League seasons
But whether under Nuno or Graham Potter earlier in the season, the Brazilian has been a magnet for the ball as of late.
Why is this good news for Nuno Espirito Santo?
If the Hammers continue to feed Paqueta the ball, it’ll reap rewards sooner or later.
Premier League fans are well aware of the midfielder’s talents and his ability to create for his teammates, score goals and help out in defence.
He’s the complete modern-day midfielder, and West Ham fans have been raving about his quality for years.
As this Hammers side continues to grow under their guidance of their new coach and adjusts to his tactics and demands, the players will feel more comfortable both on and off the ball.
And nothing but good comes when one of your best players is feeling confident and is consistently on the ball. The job ahead is to get Paqueta the ball in situations where he feels most comfortable and is dangerous.
But for now, given that Paqueta is prone to the odd moment of brilliance, continuing to feed him the ball could light the match, which turns Nuno’s season around.
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