It has not gone unnoticed among the West Ham United supporters that a sudden upturn in form has coincided with the addition of Paco Jemez to Nuno Espirito Santo’s coaching staff.
A cult hero of Spanish football, those in Nuno’s roster have been queuing up to sing his praises over the last few weeks.
Tomas Soucek believes Paco Jemez has played a ‘big part’ in West Ham United’s timely transformation from doomed to dynamic. Ollie Scarles and Konstantinos Mavropanos credit the Spaniard with helping to improve a backline which came within just a few minutes of recording successive clean sheets this week.
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He's certainly made a big impact…
That Paco Jemez has seemingly brought about real defensive improvements is, in itself, a slight surprise.
Footballing purists like Luis Enrique and Pep Guardiola adored Jemez for his all-action, possession-heavy, high-pressing style. The man who once turned Rayo Vallecano into one of Europe’s most watchable outfits was expected to add verve to the attack, yes, but it is arguably at the other end where the Hammers are benefiting the most.
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Paco Jemez is ‘convinced’ West Ham United can survive
Former Granada, Las Palmas and Cruz Azul coach Jemez spoke to Spanish publication Cadena Cope after Benjamin Sesko rescued a point for Manchester United at the London Stadium on Thursday night.
During his first month at Rush Green, West Ham have cut the gap between themselves and 17th by five points, while losing only once in the process.
“We were in a very bad run of form,” Jemez says. “We were seven points behind [the teams on the other side of the relegation zone].
“However, in the last few matches, the team has shown signs of life. They’ve picked up the pace, they’ve believed in what they’re doing, tweaking a few things and without making big changes. If we continue like this, I’m convinced that the team will move up and we won’t be the ones who get relegated.”
Star midfielder Mateus Fernandes was exceedingly bullish himself about the Hammers’ survival prospects on a night when a dangerous, free-scoring Manchester United side were restricted to just four shots on target.
Jemez reflects on ‘incredibly difficult’ Benjamin Sesko equaliser
Nuno felt West Ham paid the price for failing to kill the game off at 1-0, rather than because of a repeat of the defensive collapses that cost them dear against Chelsea a week earlier.
Paco Jemez is clearly not afraid to disagree with Nuno, even with the eyes of the world watching. But he shares the head coach’s perspective when it comes to Sesko’s stunning 96th minute leveller.
“I’m sad, not angry,” he admits. “These things happen in football. But, because we played so well, that goal at the end shouldn’t overshadow what the team has done.
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“We’ve dropped two important points. Manchester United barely had any chances. It’s an incredibly difficult goal to score [from Sesko], but these players have the quality for that. The team is in very good form, very good, and it shouldn’t make us doubt what we’re doing.”
Soucek became a Premier League record-breaker when he converted a 50th minute Jarrod Bowen cross past a despairing Senne Lammens. The most prolific Czech player in the competition’s history has found himself back in the XI following the shock appointment of Jemez in January, starting each of the last six top-flight games.
“Paco’s a crazy guy,” Soucek tells The Athletic with a smile.
“The manager and the staff around him, including Paco, are a big part of this transformation. In training, the sessions have improved massively.
“There is more intensity and we just have to keep building our momentum. Everyone is so honest and that’s changed [recently], we can see it with our results. We have to keep it up.”
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