West Ham United head coach Nuno Espírito Santo has spoken about the constant pressure at the club and their ongoing transfer activity as the deadline approaches. The manager's comments, reported by www.whufc.com this week, come with the team sitting 12th in the Championship table with five points from four games.
What is the pressure like at West Ham?
Nuno Espírito Santo was clear that expectation is a permanent fixture at London Stadium. "At West Ham we always have pressure on us every day," the manager said. He added that the scale of the club often surprises new arrivals. "Even the players that join us don't realise how huge the Club is, so the pressure is always here, and we have to deal with that." This pressure exists despite the club not currently playing Premier League football. Nuno emphasized that the squad and staff must remain united to navigate the challenges of the season and effect the change needed for success.
How is the transfer window progressing?
The summer has seen significant squad turnover, with eleven senior players departing and seven new signings arriving. Nuno confirmed the club is still active in the market with two days remaining before the deadline. The aim is to add the right players to boost promotion chances, not just any available option. "We want to sign the right players," he stated, acknowledging the window's timing is not perfect but understandable. The club plans to fully assess its squad balance and strength after September 1. You can view the updated roster on our squad page.
How has the season started?
West Ham's start has been slow, with no wins from their first three matches. They drew against Burnley and Watford before losing to Charlton Athletic. Their current league standing shows one win, two draws, and one loss from four games, with a recent form of WDLD. The team has scored eight goals and conceded seven, giving them a +1 goal difference. They are five points behind league leaders Swansea City. Key midfielder Tomáš Souček is currently sidelined, adding to the selection challenges.
What about the young players?
Several academy graduates have already featured this season, gaining valuable experience. Airidas Golambeckis, Divine Mukasa, Mohamadou Kanté, Lewis Orford, Ollie Scarles, Joshua Ajala, Ezra Mayers, Finlay Herrick and Kaelan Casey have all played in Championship or Carabao Cup matches, including wins over Portsmouth and Southampton. Golambeckis, who joined halfway through last season, is on a special development programme. Nuno stressed that building a team takes time and patience, and giving these young players opportunities is part of the long-term plan.
How strong is the Championship this season?
Nuno believes the league is stronger and deeper than it was nine seasons ago. The club conducted pre-season analysis of their competitors and noted that while the overall quality has seen little improvement since 2018, squads are now more complete, higher in quality, and more talented. West Ham, considered one of the favorites for promotion, is focused on being themselves within the competition rather than adapting to it. The next test is a home match against Derby County, who are 16th in the table, on September 5. Check our fixtures for all upcoming dates.
