Nuno Espirito Santo Targets Unity As West Ham Begin New Era

Nuno Espirito Santo’s first game in charge of West Ham may have ended in a 1-1 draw at Everton, but the new manager wasted no time in outlining his biggest priority—reuniting the players with the club’s supporters.

After weeks of unrest and chants of “sack the board,” the Portuguese coach made a symbolic gesture by leading his players over to the travelling fans at Goodison Park, applauding their commitment on a Monday night away trip.

“What I think is important is to appreciate what our fans did traveling to Liverpool on a Monday night and giving the support they’ve given,” Nuno said. “It’s our main priority to come closer to our fans. We have to deliver so they can appreciate the work of the boys.”

On the pitch, West Ham showed signs of improvement. Jarrod Bowen’s second-half equaliser secured a valuable point, and while Nuno avoided sweeping tactical changes after just two days in the job, there were subtle shifts.

The Hammers attempted 14 shots compared to their season average of just over 10, and most notably, they recorded 29 touches inside Everton’s penalty area—10 more than usual. While they were slightly more direct in their passing, it was their quick transitions and energy from players like Crysencio Summerville that caused the most problems for the hosts.

For Bowen, the approach was refreshingly straightforward: “There wasn’t loads of change because he understands there were only two days and it’s been a lot for the players. He just kept it simple and basic.”

Nuno, meanwhile, stressed the importance of “small steps” as he gets to know his squad and builds the foundations for progress. “Simple, don’t change too many things. It’s about slowly progressing and trying to find the right options and solutions,” he explained.

West Ham’s players know they carry responsibility for results, regardless of who is in the dugout. “We’ve got a really good group, who want to do well and get us out of the position we’re in,” Bowen said. “We’ve got to go out on the pitch together and fight in the Premier League every single week.”

For now, unity and togetherness are the buzzwords at West Ham—and under Nuno Espirito Santo, bridging the gap between players and fans may prove just as crucial as the results on the pitch.