West Ham United secured a vital draw, as they held of waves of attacks to gain at a point against Manchester City. The point took the Hammers out of the bottom three for the time being, and kept to team’s positive form going.
West Ham had to dig into to record the result, with their stout defence being tested throughout the 90 minutes. The game was all about effort, and the Irons gave everything in a match most expected them to lose.
Nuno Espirito Santo told the club’s official website that his side’s effort can get them far this season, but for now, the league table is irrelevant:
“Everybody had to realise the need of a big effort without the ball, off the ball. We had to work very hard and the boys did well, really well.
“The first half was tough because we didn’t have much of the ball but at the same time, we controlled, we closed the gaps, we closed the lines, City didn’t break us too many times.
“It was positive, the way we reacted to the goal, that we could see immediately we went forward, we achieved a corner and a goal, which against teams like this is important. You cannot put your heads down.
“And again, I think the fans understand it and they suffer alongside us, knowing that the game is hard for us, the quality of the opponent in the end, putting the bodies on the line. So, it was a big team effort.”
Fundamentals first for Nuno’s West Ham
For Nuno, it’s all about the fundamentals. If his West Ham side can put the effort in, alongside doing the fundamentals, he believes his side is set up to get results. The Iron’s boss said that it is something they have been working on and it is now showing on the pitch:
“Sometimes it could be better. We’re always trying to demand more out of our boys, but they’ve been working very hard and organisation is the fundamental of football.
“You have to be in the right place, you have to cover, you have to help each other, you have to make the balances. When we don’t have the ball like the game today, it’s very important to keep to your tasks.
“The result helps us recover because today was a big effort from the boys and it will help us during the week to recover well, in a good mood, enjoying that we are doing things well.
“But we are realising that nothing has changed, our fans know it, we know it, we have to work very hard, very hard, very hard. We don’t look at the table, we try to ignore it and stay humble, stay humble, stay humble, recognise that it’s a long, long way to go.”
