Nuno Espirito Santo was keen to play down the growing hype around West Ham academy star Freddie Potts during his press conference earlier today.
While the Hammers boss was happy to praise Potts’ Man of the Match performance in Sunday’s 3-1 victory over Newcastle, he made a point of tempering expectations when questioned repeatedly by reporters.
“He played really, really good. He had a fantastic match. His actions were accurate, and he balanced the team in the middle of the park. He’s played a lot of games on loan, and he is a good option for us. We’re here to help him improve.
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We have to realise where we come from, though. It’s one game, and it’s in the past. Now we’re moving forward, towards a tough test against Burnley.”
Freddie Potts won man of the match for his performance against Newcastle
Managing Expectations
When speaking to the written press, Nuno doubled down on that message, reminding journalists that it was “just one game” and urging them to “calm down.”
He did, however, express his enthusiasm for working with young players and said he was looking forward to helping Potts continue his development. It was clear, though, that the West Ham boss wants to manage expectations and avoid piling unnecessary pressure on the 21-year-old midfielder following his breakout performance against the Magpies.
You can hear a full breakdown of the press conference below from BBC reporter Lauren Moore, who attended the session. Speaking exclusively to Hammers Chat, she offered fascinating insight into Nuno Espirito Santo’s mindset heading into this weekend’s crucial clash with Burnley.