West Ham’s board have moved to take a strong stance against claims from a prominent journalist that the club’s players dislike boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
- Hammers News exclusive
There is a well-known Grand Theft Auto meme that is perfect for what is happening at West Ham right now.
And yes it is a case of ‘here we go again’ in east London as rumours and leaks emerge of bust-ups and unrest from the West Ham camp.
It happened at the tail end of David Moyes’ time at the club, particularly surrounding his relationship with Tim Steidten.
Tales from behind the Irons curtain have also come out during the short-lived tenures of Julen Lopetegui and Graham Potter.
First Lopetegui, then Potter, now Nuno faces West Ham unrest claims
Journalists have spilled the beans on dressing room unrest after the departures of both of Nuno Espirito Santo’s predecessors.
Lopetegui reportedly fell out with a host of West Ham stars and even conceded he had bust-ups with Mohammed Kudus and Jean-Clair Todibo.
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When Potter was axed, a leading West Ham reporter revealed he too had fallen out with Todibo and several others while also privately questioning Jarrod Bowen’s captaincy.
Bowen responded to Potter with his celebration in Nuno’s first game as Hammers boss.
Now Nuno’s failure to turn the sinking West Ham ship around has seen him befall the same fate.
Amid rumours he could be sacked, word has also emerged from reporter Jacob Steinberg that there is unrest in the unhappy Hammers camp towards the head coach.
Now the West Ham board has taken a strong stance against claims the players dislike Nuno.
The Hammers are stuck in the relegation zone with 18 games to play and are four points adrift of Forest in the safety of 17th.
West Ham can cut that gap to a point by beating Forest at the London Stadium on Tuesday night.
However, after stretching their winless run to nine games with the shambolic 3-0 defeat to Wolves, that is going to be easier said than done.
The Wolves debacle is deemed the worst performance from a West Ham side since a 6-0 hiding at Reading 19 years ago in January 2007.
West Ham board’s strong stance against Nuno dislike claims
So it is understandable speculation has reignited over Nuno’s future.
West Ham’s board told under-fire Nuno what is needed as they labelled the Wolves performance ‘terrible’.
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Journalist Jacob Steinberg, who has strong contacts at the London Stadium, has claimed in The Guardian that Nuno is in danger of losing the support of West Ham’s squad.
Steinberg stated there are concerns among players about his man-management, team selections, confusing training methods and tactics.
The reporter also claims Nuno has barely spoken to some players since his arrival at the end of September.
Nuno is also described as ‘distant and uncommunicative on a day-to-day basis’ in Steinberg’s damning report.
The news came on the day reports emerged Nuno could be sacked if West Ham lose to Forest.
And on the same day the Hammers backed the manager by adding £25m striker Taty Castellanos to the addition of £20m forward Pablo.
A peculiar situation that seems so typical of the mess that has been West Ham over the last few years.
Seeking clarity, Hammers News reached out to the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners about the rumours surrounding Nuno’s future and the reported unrest among players.
Nuno unrest talk ‘not helping morale’ say Hammers owners
The board pushed back firmly against suggestions Nuno could be sacked and responded to the claims of dressing-room unrest.
With pressure building after recent results and intense scrutiny on the head coach, the club’s response appears aimed at drawing a clear line under speculation and restoring a sense of unity at a critical moment.
While also making it clear that should the January signings not work out, it is on the manager’s head.
“There is NO TRUTH in the rumours Nuno will be sacked,” the spokesman for West Ham’s owners told Hammers News.
“Though all this talk about Nuno’s future and unrest amongst players is not good for team morale!
“We are bringing in players the manager wants.”
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