That Nuno Espirito Santo shares a common tongue with a number of West Ham United players – Mateus Fernandes, Lucas Paqueta, Luis Guilherme and Igor Julio – was just another tick in the Iberian’s box.
Former Hammers striker Jermain Defoe called Nuno the ‘obvious choice’ following his appointment on a three-year deal at the end of September. The best man for the job for a variety of reasons.
The outstanding work he did at Wolves and Nottingham Forest – taking both clubs into the Europa League while constructing some of England’s most consistent defences – bodes very well for a West Ham United side who conceded goals at an alarming rate under Graham Potter.
Nuno is determined to embrace the ‘West Ham way’, too, while continuing their tradition of promoting youth from within.
That he can converse fluently with a handful of players – in particular big-money summer signing Mateus Fernandes and Brazilian playmaker Lucas Paqueta – also comes in handy.
Nuno Espirito Santo labels West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes a ‘special’ talent
While Mateus Fernandes made an ‘exceptional’ start to life in the capital – ironically, during that 3-0 thrashing of Nuno’s Nottingham Forest – his impact has waned a little since then. Debates over his most effective position were common at Southampton, and they have reared their head again in East London.
Speaking to DAZN Portugal ahead of Monday’s clash with local rivals Brentford, Nuno feels that Fernandes is a ‘special’ talent.
But, in order to unlock that vast potential, he needs to find a role which highlights his strengths but shields his weaknesses.
“Mateus is a challenge that we have on our hands, and we sincerely believe that we can help Mateus,” Nuno says of his compatriot, who joined Southampton from Sporting Lisbon in the summer of 2024.
“[Fernandes can] improve as a player, become a more mature person. A young person is capable of, I believe, giving many, many joys to West Ham. We have something special there.”
Nuno needs to discover Fernandes’ best position
Speaking to the BBC last year, his former Estoril coach Vasco Seabra highlighted Fernandes’ versatility in the centre of the park. Already in his young career, the Portugal Under-21 captain has played as a number ten, a number eight, wide on the flanks and in a more defensively-minded role.
“I see that he has the capacity, the versatility of actually occupying several positions on the field,” Nuno adds. “So, I believe that he can play inside, he can play on the outside, he can play, if we want, as a ‘ten’ or play as a ‘six’.
“He has that ability.
“[But which midfield partner is] better for Mateus to have by his side? Can he produce better? Therefore, this identification, if you will, of partnerships, of the communication between players, the triangles, the pivots, is what helps the players to improve.”
Southampton nightmare was a tough start to Portugal Under-21 stars England career
Fernandes excelled in a box-to-box role on his Hammers debut at the City Ground. The kind of driving runs for which he is best known have been relatively few and far between since then, however. Alongside Soungoutou Magassa during the 2-0 defeat by Arsenal last time out, Fernandes’ lack of defensive instincts were exposed as Ebere Eze darted in behind him to help set up Declan Rice’s opener.
At the age of 21, and on the back of a nightmare campaign for Southampton, Nuno accepts that Fernandes may take some time to transition into a new environment.
“I think last year at Southampton, Mateus went through a very difficult year. It was a complicated year for him. The demands [placed on him] were tremendous,” Nuno says.
“I think that made it grow. It helped in that aspect, but the fact of not having had many moments of genuine joy during the competition, it wasn’t good either.
“So, let’s try to look for him to feel happier.”
