West Ham still face 'big mission' but 'rebalanced' squad pulling together, says Nuno

Q: What did Nuno Espirito Santo say about West Ham's current situation?

Nuno stated that West Ham has a 'big mission' ahead and emphasized the need to focus on each game rather than the league table.

Q: How did West Ham perform in their last match?

West Ham won their last match against Wolves with a score of 4-0, helping them move out of the relegation zone.

Q: What is West Ham's upcoming match?

West Ham is set to play against Crystal Palace in their next match on Monday Night Football.

Q: How has West Ham's performance changed recently?

The team's turnaround has been substantial and impressive, leading them to a more favorable position in the league.

"We still have a big mission to accomplish, a hard job to do."

Nuno Espirito Santo wasn't getting carried away when Sky Sports sat down with him on Friday.

That was his mindset after his side beat Wolves 4-0 to move out of the relegation zone and expect it to be his mindset regardless of Tottenham's draw with Brighton on Saturday, which has ensured West Ham will remain out of the bottom three ahead of their Monday Night Football trip to Crystal Palace.

"Let's try to ignore the table and focus on what we have to do game by game," he urged.

That may be a sensible message for his players. But West Ham fans have licence to enjoy the position their team have worked their way into. The turnaround has been substantial and impressive.

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They were seven points from safety when they lost to Nottingham Forest on January 6.

Spurs were a distant 13 points better off.

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But five wins in 11 Premier League games has taken West Ham above that crucial dotted line.

They are like a new team. They're certainly an overhauled one.

In the winter transfer window, Lucas Paqueta, James Ward-Prowse, Guido Rodriguez, Andry Irving, George Earthy, Luis Guilherme and Niclas Fullkrug were off-loaded.

In came Axel Disasi, Taty Castellanos, Pablo Felip, Adama Traore and Keiber Lamadrid.

"We reduced the numbers in terms of players and rebalanced our squad in terms of positions," explained Nuno.

"Basically, [for] the way we wanted to approach the second half of the season. The previous idea that we had - a different idea for the second half."

The style shift is clear.

From August to January 16, West Ham ranked 17th for goals per game, 19th for big chances created and 16th for possession.

Since then, they've given up possession and rank 20th in the league in that metric, but they've become far more dangerous, ranking sixth for goals per game and big chances created, going into this round of matches.

Crystal Palace West Ham United

Monday 20th April 6:30pm

Kick off 8:00pm

Sky Sports Premier League HD

They've given confidence and freedom to their front players while, at the back, they've kept four clean sheets in their last eight Premier League games since Mads Hermansen returned in goal and loan signing Disasi bolstered the defence.

Set-piece weaknesses have been addressed. They have conceded three times from those situations in the past 11 games - all in one go against Liverpool. Previously they had let in 12 set-piece goals in 21 matches.

But perhaps the real key has been the bonds West Ham's players have formed.

"If I can point to one particular aspect, I think everybody realised that we have to come together in the same objective," said Nuno.

"That is the main point that I believe can allow us to try and achieve better things.

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Highlights from the match between West Ham and Wolves in the Premier League

"This is the main part of our job. Football is a collective sport. Everybody is needed. The squad, the coaching staff, the staff in the club, the fans... We are getting closer together, helping each other to try and achieve what we want to achieve."

That togetherness was on show in the recent FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Leeds on penalties. West Ham looked down and out trailing 2-0 going into second-half stoppage time. But they found two goals to take it to extra-time, came close to snatching it and then ultimately fell short in the shootout.

**"**To take it to extra-time and then to penalties showed that we don't give up, that we cannot give up," said Nuno.

"Not only words - we showed it. We showed it in front of our fans. We cannot allow ourselves to ever give up. Never give up."

West Ham's remaining fixtures

Crystal Palace (A) - Monday, April 20, kick-off 8pm - live on Sky Sports
Everton (H) - Saturday, April 25, kick-off 3pm
Brentford (A) - Saturday, May 2, kick-off 3pm
Arsenal (H) - Sunday, May 10, kick-off 4.30pm - live on Sky Sports
Newcastle (A) - Sunday, May 17, kick-off 3pm
Leeds (H) - Sunday, May 24, kick-off 4pm - live on Sky Sports

Captain Jarrod Bowen sets that example. He hit the woodwork twice during that cup tie and then cruelly saw his spot-kick saved. His response? Two assists in the thrashing of Wolves.

"He's been amazing. Jarrod has been huge for us," says Nuno.

"He leads by example. The team-mates trust him. He's the club captain. It means a lot. He's taking on board this responsibility.

"Jarrod doesn't stop for one minute.

"This is the main message that we want as a squad to see. Look, no matter which situation we are in, we keep giving it, we keep insisting, we keep believing. And Jarrod is the proof of that."

Bowen will lead out a rejuvenated West Ham team at Selhurst Park on Monday night. A team ready to take on the difficulty of their situation and ready to try to seize the opportunity they have managed to carve out - together.

"Every game is pressure, always pressure," says Nuno. "It's increased due to the situation that we are in and we come to this decisive moment of the season, so we expect the best of our players, realising that everything is going to be decided now."

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