by Staff Writer
Thursday, 12th March 2026
Just four days after West Ham secured their place in the last eight of the FA Cup, Nuno Espirito Santo was in the media suite again.
Fresh from that penalty shootout win, Nuno took questions on injuries, the loss of Cry Summerville, momentum and watching the opposition - every word of which you can read below.
Q: If you could start us off with any team news ahead of the match on Saturday?
NES: So we have Somerville that is out. We're assessing him day by day, see how it goes, but he's not going to be available for the game.
Q: Do you have any longer prognosis?
NES: Day by day. See how it goes. We're going to miss him, he's an important play for us, but for this game, for sure, he's unavailable.
Q: And it's a calf issue, is that right?
NES: Yeah.
Q: Do you regret sending him back on the pitch on Monday night, given that he got..?
NES: It's nothing to do with that. It can happen one minute, can happen at any moment. For sure, when he came in, he was a big help for the team. He really did well, as he's been doing for many, many games before this.
Q: But he didn't make the injury worse by going back on the field on Monday night? Because he came off, didn't he, for treatment and then came back on.
NES: He was able still to play in the middle during extra time on the left side, to contain the full back, and he was still able to help the team.
Q: You must have a feeling you've got a bit of momentum now and anybody who watched the game on Monday night saw that crowd were behind you from start to finish as well. There must be a real feeling of momentum, positivity?
NES: I think we performed well and it was a memorable night. It was really nice. The emphasis of the penalties, that atmosphere at the stadium was really amazing. And achieving what we wanted was a big boost for everybody.
Q: So often when teams are down in the bottom tree and have been in the bottom three for a long time, there's a negative atmosphere around the club. But watching West Ham at the moment, it seems there's a real positive atmosphere and the fans are thinking, we're seeing some fight from this team where we can get out of this?
NES: Yeah. I think the team, in that aspect, has being amazing in terms of togetherness, unity, realising that everybody's needed. Everybody has to be the best of each one of us. And it's created an impact on the fans. I've always said as long as we give something that the fans are going to give you back. That's what's happening and long may it continue.
Q: Obviously plan on Saturday night. On Sunday will you watch Nottingham Forest and Leeds and Tottenham?
NES: I'm going to watch all the games! I watch all the games, some of them live, some of them afterwards. Normally I have a chance to see them.
Q: And when you watch them, are you invested in those games?
NES: No, because I cannot influence them!
Q: But sometimes that makes it worse, doesn't it? That you can't control anything?
NES: But I'm working, I'm going to see all the games. And I have to see the Villa game, for sure, because they're going to be our next opponent. This is how coaching staff will work; we see all the games.
Q: Life for West Ham fans at the moment is watching Forest, Leeds and Spurs and being as invested in those games as they are in West Ham games because they're in that situation with you. So are you in the same boat as West Ham fans? Are you watching those games and hoping results go your way?
NES: I watch all the games and not only the opponents that we have. I watch all the games in the perspective of work, seeing what can I take - sometimes ideas - and try to steal them and try to apply to our team! It's always nice, it's always helpful.
Q: As a former goalkeeper, I know the goalkeeper's union is a thing. A big talking point on Tuesday night was what happened to Antonin Kinsky. Did you feel sympathy for him? Is that a very difficult position to be in as a goalkeeper?
NES: Of course. You see stuff on him, stuff coming out of the game so early. Stop and stop situation. But this is football and how we come out of this moment is what defines you. Hopefully he can bounce back and show...
Q: Is it the loneliest position on the pitch? Goalkeeper?
NES: Probably, yes. Definitely, yes!
Q: And the hardest?
NES: Yes!
Q: Because when goalkeepers make a mistake, it's usually a goal, right? Midfielders can make a mistake and it's not a goal.
NES: No, there's no hiding from that. There's no hiding the responsibility of being in goal. You cannot hide, it's so important for the team.
Q: Is it easier, less stressful being a head coach than a goalkeeper?
NES: Different. Equally stressful, but different. Totally different.
Q: In the last seven games in all competitions, you've only lost one game. That's a very impressive run of results. What do you put it down to, that momentum?
NES: The hard work of the players, the I think we've improved our game. Like I said, the aspects of that we mentioned before, the unity, the team spirit, it's there. It's there in abundance. Some luck, that always helps and realising that it's going to be needed.
Q: A couple of your players I want to ask you about. First of all Mateus Fernandes. He's been really good this season. What impressed you the most about Matteo so far?
NES: Many things. I think he is a young player that has a lot things to still develop but he's been showing a lot of character and he's one of the players that has more minutes. He's always giving it all and he's a talented, fantastic team player. I think he plays with obsession for the team. I know we are delighted to have him.
Q: Second player, Axel Disasi, he's been in the club for less than a couple of months. What do you think he gave you that perhaps you didn't have before he joined?
NES: I think he's helped us. He's one more option in our backline. He's integrated himself really well with the squad, speaking, communicating and he's doing really, really well. Individually and the connection in the back line is helping a lot, so credit to him.
Q: Man City this weekend. They are in a very good position in the League, in the table, but it feels this season we're seeing a different version of Man City. Is that something you feel as well?
NES: No, I always believed that Man City is one of the best teams. They have an enormous amount of solutions, talented players and a fantastic manager. So what I see is a tough opponent, a very tough opponent for anyone.
Q: In Man City's last win domestically against Leeds against Newcastle, they managed to do it without Erling Haaland. He's obviously a world class striker, but how impressive you've been with their ability to find solutions domestically when he wasn't available?
NES: Because they have a lot of options and many talented players that can play in several positions. They have an identity of the way they play football, so any player that you put inside It immediately clicks and gets inside of the identity of the team so. So many options, so many talented players.
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