If West Ham United are to secure themselves at least another season of Premier League football, Nuno Espirito Santo will be indebted to the impact made by Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi.
Chelsea loanee Disasi has a 40 per cent win rate since joining on the final day of the January transfer window. Before he made his debut in last month’s 2-0 win at Burnley, West Ham United had triumphed in only 20 per cent of their previous 24 Premier League outings.
And, while Crysencio Summerville is guaranteed to run him close, Mateus Fernandes is surely an early frontrunner for the Hammer of the Year award.
The fixture we all dread… 😮💨
How on earth can West Ham beat City WITHOUT Summerville?
Speaking at his official pre-match press conference, Manchester City will arrive at the London Stadium for Saturday’s late kick-off, Nuno Espirito Santo paid a grateful tribute to two of West Ham’s most impactful signings in recent memory.
Nuno Espirito Santo hails Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi amid West Ham United revival
“[Fernandes] is a young player that still has a lot to develop, but he’s showing a lot of character,” Nuno says of the Portugal Under-21 captain. “He’s one of the players who has the most minutes, always giving his all.
“He’s talented and a fantastic team player. He plays with an obsession for the team, and we are delighted to have him.”
On Disasi, Nuno said; “He’s helped us. He’s one more option in our backline. He integrated himself really, really well in terms of the squad.
“The squad helped him with integrating and communicating, and he’s doing really well. The connection in the backline is helping a lot, so credit to him.”
West Ham landed themselves the ‘ultimate midfielder’ – to quote former Southampton captain Jo Tessem – when Fernandes arrived in a £40 million deal. One which raised eyebrows at the time but now looks like a snip.
Not only is he the most ‘press resistant’ midfielder in the league according to some metrics, Fernandes also tops the charts at West Ham when it comes to chance creation and tackles won.
Disasi, meanwhile, immediately transformed a backline which has three clean sheets in their last five Premier League outings. A far cry from the calamitous Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo and/or Konstantinos Mavropanos partnership which began the campaign by conceding nine set-piece goals in nine matches.
Reports claim Chelsea could sell Disasi for just £20 million. A bargain West Ham would be mad to miss out on.
How would YOU set the Hammers up against Man City? ⚒️ v 🩵
Three at the back? Another start for Kante and Pablo?
Nuno wary of a ‘very tough’ Manchester City challenge
Of course, West Ham will be without Summerville when they host Pep Guardiola’s second-placed side. From a more positive perspective, Jarrod Bowen is scoring again and Pablo Felipe made an impressive return against Brentford in the FA Cup on Monday.
“That aspect has been amazing, in terms of the togetherness and the unity, realising that everyone is needed and everyone has to be at their best on the pitch,” adds Nuno, who secured FA Cup progress despite making seven changes from the team which beat Fulham away five days earlier.
“I’ve always said: as long as we give something to the fans, the fans are going to give something back. Let’s hope it continues.”
Man City are reeling from a Real Madrid mauling in midweek, though Nuno is wary of a wounded beast.
“I always believe that Manchester City is one of the best teams,” the head coach continued. “They have an enormous amount of solutions and talented players. They have a fantastic manager. What I see is a tough opponent; a very tough opponent for anyone.
“They have many talented players that can play in several positions. They have an identity where any player you put in the team immediately clicks and gets inside the identity of the team.
“So many options, so many talented players.
“I’m going to watch all the games [including our relegation rivals]; some of them live, some of them afterwards. I cannot influence them, but I’m working and I’m going to see all the games. The Aston Villa game for sure, because that is our next opponent [after City on March 22nd].
“Seeing what ideas I can take, trying to steal them and apply them to our team, it’s always helpful.”
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