by Staff Writer
Thursday, 23rd April 2026
Nuno Espirito Santo was in positive mood this lunchtime as he addressed the media ahead of Saturday's crunch Premier League clash with Everton and one of his predecessors, David Moyes.
The Head Coach took questions on injury status, Karren Brady, Crystal Palace and, of course, his thoughts on the club's chances of avoiding relegation - every word of which you may read below.
Q: Afternoon Nuno. We were at the open training session earlier, the spirits seemed really high. How do you keep the team spirits so high when there's so much on the line at the moment?
NES: I think it helps. It helps that the players realise the situation that you have, but at the same time work in a nice atmosphere, helping each other in a good environment. It's all helpful.
Q: Just with the open training session, it looked like everyone was fit again. Is that the case?
NES: Yeah, all the squad is available and good.
Q: This week, we saw the news that Karren Brady is leaving West Ham after 16 years, a real long stint. What's it been like to work with her in your time here?
NES: She's been very supportive, a good relationship. All the board have being supportive through difficult times. It's been a pleasure working with Karren.
Q: For you, is it important to have some clarity about what upstairs looks like in the future, because she has been such a key figure here at West Ham here for so long? A decision maker, for you going forward, it is important that you have some clarity about what the future looks like upstairs?
NES: That's up to the board. My job is to prepare the boys, especially against Everton.
Q: You've had a few days now, I guess, to reflect on across the Palace game. What are your reflections now after looking at it? Does it feel potentially like a missed opportunity to not get three points there?
NES: I think we played a good game against a very good team, Palace with recent success. I think the team performed well. We had chances. At the same time, we were solid and compact. It was a good performance. We wanted to win, it didn't come, but realising that the team spirit, the way the boys played and commit themselves on their tasks, is very positive.
Q: Going forward, is it going to be important now to take those chances though, to convert?
NES: It's going to be important. All the details, you know, that football is defined by really fine margins and then we are working on that aspect. Try to improve our passing, our finishing, all the processes of the game. But consistency, taking chances, being clinical, all the things that we already speak about the game.
Q: Leeds have got 40 points now after the draw last night. Do you see them as out of the relegation battle? How do you see that shaping up?
NES: I think there's a lot of football to be played so we have to focus on ourselves and Saturday is a big task for us.
Q: Your first game as West Ham manager was against Everton. I just wondered, does it give you a chance to reflect sort of how far the team's come there and just the job that you've done since then as well? How do you kind of you rate that?
NES: It's been day-to-day, it's been very demanding, very intense. So the assessment is always made day-to-day. How can we improve? How can we achieve our objectives?
Q: You've got Everton next, big challenge. You've been performing well at home. What sort of pass would you expect against such a physical team?
NES: It's a tough game against a good team, good players. David Moyes, we all know, good manager. But as you say, it's going to be at the London Stadium. I think we've been improving our own form with the support of the fans and we count on them to try and compete well and have a good performance.
Q: As you just said, two clean sheets in a row, unbeaten in five league games. What do you put this down to? Because when you first came here, you said you need to have balance in defence and attack. You need to perform better and the results will come. What do you think you've been doing better as a team?
NES: Oh, I think the players are improving. The level and the standards are improving. The players are working well, competing well. And it comes down to the level and performance of the players, I think. As long as we are able to improve our own players, the team will improve. And like you said, we've been solid, good on defence, sometimes good on attack, sometimes not so good. Finding that balance in the last remaining matches of the game is going to be crucial for us.
Q: Speaking about those individual players, Callum Wilson, he scored eight goals in his last seven appearances against Everton. How have you found him helping you in this business end of the season and expecting him on the weekend?
NES: All the players are very important and like I said before, all the squad is available. So having all the options to try and help us is very important for us.
Q: Five games to go. West Ham not in the bottom three. It's in your hands about whether they stay up. How confident are you?
NES: Very confident. I think the performance of the team give us all at the club the hope and the belief that we are competing well.
Q: And the game this weekend against Everton is at home, you've already pointed out the improvement in form at the London Stadium. What is that down to? Because it's been hard for West Ham pretty much in the 10 years since they moved to London Stadium to make it a fortress, to make it somewhere hard for the opposition to come and play - but recently you seem to have done that?
NES: I think since we joined, it was one of our main goals to try and be comfortable at home and the credit is for the fans. I think the fans realised the situation of the team and really, really put an effort to support us and the team is giving back and the atmosphere has been good. Having three games of the last five at home, I think it's positive for us.
Q: In terms of your defence, I mean, Mavropanos has been exceptional recently, but so to Axel Disasi and I mentioned him in particular because when he came to West Ham, he hadn't been playing at Chelsea, barely training at Chelsea because of the way the situation was there. I mean, what a phenomenal shift he's putting in for you and for your team?
NES: Yeah, I think he's been very helpful since he joined. Has been performing really good. JC also in that moment was playing and playing good. We have Max, so on the centre half we are positive that we have options. And like you said, Dinos is improving day by day and we are delighted.
Q: And you played against quite a few former teams this year. You played Forest, you played Wolves, you played Spurs. Can you take me inside the head of a manager when you're playing against a former team? So I can kind of understand how David Moyes might be coming down to West Ham. Is it special or is it just another game for you guys?
NES: It's not just another game, basically because we've been in these clubs. I speak for myself, the advantage is that you know the players. You know sometimes the routines. On this case, David knows the routines, knows the players! So we have to try and make new things happen so we don't become so predictable. But it's not another game. This is always a special game due to the respect and love that you have from former clubs. But you want to win. You want to compete and win.
Q: Finally from me, sun's out, it's a beautiful day. Coming towards the business end of the season you don't look a man who's under pressure. You don't look a man who's particularly stressed. So how do you get through every day without letting it all kind of get on top of you without making you worry too much?
NES: Focus on the job that I have to do - and the game is only Saturday. The stress will come Saturday! Now is the day to prepare the boys, be focused. Live your life, not looking further ahead. Day by day.
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