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Nuno says the West Ham board have a ‘mission’ that everyone at the London Stadium shares

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No one at West Ham United, Nuno Espirito Santo says, is thinking beyond Sunday’s matchday 36 clash with Premier League leaders Arsenal.

In truth, looking ahead to the future when their top-flight status is on the line makes little sense at this stage.

Will West Ham United be a Premier League team next season?

How would a draw with Arsenal make you feel about our survival chances? 🤔

West Ham would still be below Spurs on goal difference… 😬

Pablo Felipe playing for West Ham against Brentford
Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

What will their budget look like? Will Jarrod Bowen, Crysencio Summerville, Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi stick around? Will Nuno Espirito Santo be the manager?

These are all questions we will be able to answer, in time, once the Hammers’ fate is sealed. For now, everything is up in the air, from their survival prospects to the future of their head coach.

Nuno Espírito Santo, West Ham United boss - FBL-ENG-PR-BRENTFORD-WEST HAM
Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images

Nuno Espirito Santo is not looking beyond West Ham United v Arsenal

Speaking as Mikel Arteta prepares to bring his Champions League finalists across the city to the London Stadium, Nuno insists that everyone on and off the pitch is aligned at West Ham.

The future is merely a concept.

“I’m going to be honest with you; I don’t have one second to think about next season,” Nuno told a reporter during his pre-match press conference. “The challenge is so demanding, especially the game on Sunday. That is what we have to focus on.

“I don’t have enough energy to think ahead. It’s just tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, day by day.”

To boo or not to boo, that is the question… 😂

A graphic asking West Ham fans the question: "Question - What kind of reception would you give Declan Rice on Sunday and why?" Image shows Declan Rice scoring against West Ham for Arsenal FC.
Credit: Getty Images/David Price/Arsenal FC

Nuno spoke with interim CEO Karim Virani last week.

The former Rangers director is backing the manager to pull off a ‘Great Escape’ to rival that of 2006/07, though the subsequent 3-0 loss at Brentford – coupled with Tottenham’s win away at Villa Park – makes achieving that a whole lot harder.

“I think all the club – all the staff, the board, the players, the fans, everybody – we have our mission,” Nuno adds seven days later. “It’s about Sunday. Just focus on Sunday.”