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Nuno on team news, VAR and being 'ready' for Newcastle
TL;DR
West Ham's Nuno Espirito Santo confirmed Adama Traore is out for the match against Newcastle due to a muscle injury. He emphasized the importance of every game and the need for focus as the team prepares for the relegation battle.
Key points
- Adama Traore is out for the match against Newcastle
- Nuno emphasizes every game is a must-win
- Concerns raised about VAR and refereeing consistency
West HamNewcastle UnitedAdama TraoreCallum Wilson
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Newcastle United at St James' Park (kick-off 17:30 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
- On team news: "We have Adama [Traore] out for the game but the rest of the squad is good. He has a muscle injury - he is recovering but he was not available for Arsenal and he'll miss this one."
- Asked if Callum Wilson will be given more game time, Nuno said he will "decide tomorrow, for the team".
- On the Hammers' penultimate game this season: "Every game is a new game. I believe you keep your approach and the values are the same from the first round to the last round. Everything is going to be decided by the two rounds. If I give a rousing speech in the first round, I will give it in the last round as well. It will be the same."
- On the mental aspect of Sunday's game: "We knew some while ago that it [the relegation battle] will be decided now [in the last games]. Our job is to focus and prepare our players and get them ready for Sunday. That is our priority. We are ready, we are positive and we believe."
- He added: "Every game is a must win and nothing has changed. The importance of the points is the same. I hope the players stay focused, do their task and ignore the outside noise. What I try to give our players is confidence."
- Asked about the complaint West Ham filed over their late equaliser being disallowed against Arsenal, Nuno said: "We tried to find some answers with things we are concerned about. I suppose we [Premier League clubs] all compare similar situations and this is why we need consistency. I don't have time to think about the changes and finding solutions is not my problem. The referees must understand the needs of solving this doubt. I believe the Premier League and the referees will solve it."
- He added: "The job of the referees is really hard and difficult. VAR was supposed to help the referees. Is it helping? Is it creating more questions? I believe they can do better."
You can listen to match commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live at 17:30 on Sunday
Q&A
What is the latest team news for West Ham ahead of the Newcastle match?
Adama Traore is out due to a muscle injury, but the rest of the squad is fit for the game.
How does Nuno Espirito Santo view the importance of upcoming matches?
Nuno believes every game is a must-win and emphasizes the need for focus and confidence among players.
What concerns did Nuno express about VAR and refereeing consistency?
Nuno highlighted the need for consistency in refereeing decisions and questioned whether VAR is effectively helping referees.
