Belief is clearly building inside the West Ham camp as one top star has boldly predicted that the Hammers will fly up the Premier League table under Nuno Espirito Santo.
It is fair to say Nuno Espirito Santo has made quite the impression in his first week at West Ham United.
Hammers fans were bored stiff by Julen Lopetegui and Graham Potter – on and off the pitch.
But from Nuno’s first interview, he had supporters engaged.
Promising ‘hell’ for the opposition once he has West Ham playing how he wants has reignited a bit of fire in the bellies of Hammers fans.
It has not been lost on Hammers fans that Nuno has an aura which has come across loud and clear in interviews, press conferences and footage from West Ham’s media team so far.
Nuno making good early impression at West Ham
Supporters have also been encouraged by the ruthless streak their new manager clearly possesses having dropped James Ward-Prowse as his first act.
They may have conceded yet another goal from a set-piece, but West Ham were so much better in the draw at Everton.
Particularly in the second half where whatever Nuno said at half-time clearly had a major influence.
Footage from training shows the big impact Nuno is already making at West Ham.
Short-term everyone connected with West Ham will be focused solely on avoiding relegation from the Premier League.
The start to the season has been so poor that setting sights on anything more would be naive.
The malaise at West Ham is nothing new, though, because the team has won just 17 of their last 63 Premier League games since the start of 2024.
Watching half their top flight rivals competing in Europe stings for Hammers fans who enjoyed every minute of their three consecutive seasons playing on the continent.
That is already feeling like a distant memory for the Hammers.
The increased number of places available to English sides to qualify for Europe means it may not be as out of reach as it has seemed now Nuno has arrived.
West Ham will fly up Premier League under Nuno says top star
Because West Ham will fly up the Premier League table under Nuno says one of the club’s top stars.
If it seems like the Portuguese boss has completely transformed the mood and mentality at the club then that’s because he has.
That’s according to one of the Premier League signings of the season, El Hadji Malick Diouf.
Senegal left-back Diouf has been a sensation for West Ham and the standout player of a poor season so far.
An early shout for Hammer of the Year, the 20-year-old looks a bargain at £19m.
With four assists already, Diouf is catching the eye outside the West Ham bubble.
He is one of four players Nuno actively wanted at Forest during the summer window along with Crysencio Summerville, Mateus Fernandes and Soungoutou Magassa.
Given Nuno is also a big fan of Jarrod Bowen and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the new head coach clearly has the makings of a team he is happy to work with.
Diouf has been blown away by the new boss and his instant impact, saying he has breathed new life and energy into the players.
And he believes Nuno will get the best out of the talent in West Ham’s squad to get the team quickly rising up the league – providing everyone listens to the manager.
“We are really enjoying working with the new Head Coach because he’s a good guy and already has the experience of the Premier League,” Diouf told West Ham’s website.
Diouf absolutely raves about new Hammers boss Nuno
“He can help us and help me as a young player, and that’s what we need. I think we can learn also about him, and we are all happy to welcome him here. We started with a positive result, and we can have a good season with him.
“You can see from the whole team, there is a lot of new energy. We have something here, and we have a lot of good players. The quality is there, and everything can change. We just need time.
“We have to be calm and take our time. We must play as a team, defend together and attack together, and I think if we do that, we will finish high in the table…
“We just have to do what the Head Coach tells us to, and I think it will be better. We need to listen to him and do what he says, and we have to do it properly.”
How refreshing it is for West Ham fans to hear players reacting so positively about the new manager.
The Hammers will need to take things a step at a time and the run of games after the international break will be key regardless of what happens against Arsenal.
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