---
title: "Aston Villa vs West Ham – Everything Nuno said pre-match"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2026/03/20/aston-villa-vs-west-ham-premier-league-nuno-pre-match/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Matt Bottomley"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2026-03-20T16:10:37Z"
modified: "2026-03-20T16:12:12Z"
---

# Aston Villa vs West Ham – Everything Nuno said pre-match

- **Nuno Espirito Santo speaking ahead of Aston Villa vs West Ham on Sunday**
- **Update on Crysencio Summerville**
- **How his players deserve their international call ups**

West Ham United head to Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon looking to continue their climb out of the bottom three. [Nuno Espirito Santo’s team](https://readwestham.com/2026/03/15/nuno-espirito-santo-on-west-ham-draw-manchester-city/) are in good form and looking to [build on their 1-1 home draw with Manchester City](https://readwestham.com/2026/03/14/west-ham-1-1-manchester-city-premier-league/) last weekend.

The result has seen [West Ham](https://readwestham.com/) stay level on points with Nottingham Forest, [only in the relegation zone on goal difference](https://readwestham.com/2026/03/16/west-ham-survival-situation-gameweek-30/). With Forest taking on [Tottenham Hotspur](https://readtottenham.com/) this weekend, the Hammers know a good result will see them spend the international break out of the bottom three.

Things won’t be easy for the Irons, with [Aston Villa](https://readastonvilla.com/) determined to make the Champions League places this season. Despite this, [Unai Emery’s team are on a slide and also played in Europe in midweek](https://readwestham.com/2026/03/20/aston-villa-vs-west-ham-preview-and-prediction-26/), with [West Ham](https://www.whufc.com/en) hoping to [take some advantage of tired legs this weekend](https://readwestham.com/2026/03/19/head-to-head-aston-villa-vs-west-ham/).

## Nuno’s thoughts

On [Jarrod Bowen’s England call up](https://readwestham.com/2026/03/20/west-ham-jarrod-bowen-england-squad/): *“I’m very happy and I think it’s deserved.*

*“For West Ham, it’s good that as many players as we have available for national teams are called-up and they enjoy it. It’s always positive. It’s one of the major goals for players individually, to play for their countries.*

*“Jarrod’s priority is the Club and the team. That’s what he’s doing every day and he is doing it very well. After that there are always consequences.”*

On how [El Hadji Malick Diouf](https://readwestham.com/2026/03/16/el-hadji-malick-diouf-west-ham-uniteds-togetherness/) has been since the AFCON final verdict: *“I watched the game (2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco) and I recall perfectly what happened (Senegal left the pitch after a penalty was awarded against them, then returned, the penalty was saved and Senegal won the game in extra-time. CAF have now overturned the decision, stripped Senegal of the title and announced Morocco as champions).*

*“What happens in the pitch stays in the pitch for me. For me, Malick is a champion, it’s over and all the decisions that come after that. For Malick, he’s happy and he deserves a medal.”*

On Mateus Fernandes’s first senior Portugal call up: *“Mateus is playing well, competing really well and I think he’s improving since the beginning.*

*“He’s an immensely talented player. He takes a lot of responsibility for the team. He deserves to be called-up by Portugal. I hope he enjoys it because he’s going to have great competition there but it’s a deserved one because he’s playing really good.”*

On how the focus remains on [West Ham](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/west-ham-united): *“We are talking about national teams because now it is the time for call-ups but it is not an issue for us. During our day-to-day we don’t talk about national teams.*

*“All the players understand that, to be even considered for their national teams, they have to do their jobs for the Club and this is what I speak with them.*

*“I make them realise they have to do their jobs and their tasks and play good and enjoy, and then after that anything can happen.”*

On the for form of [Konstantinos Mavropanos](https://readwestham.com/2026/03/17/west-ham-konstantinos-mavropanos-motd-team-of-the-week/): *“Dinos has been really, really helpful for us. Since I joined, I don’t remember one day he wasn’t there. He’s a warrior.*

*“Of course, our fans and everybody notice the highlights with him scoring the penalty and the goal, but he’s been doing an amazing job.”*

On why he believes Aston Villa will still be a threat despite form: *“I don’t see Villa struggle. I saw the game on Thursday and I saw a very good team. Unai is an amazing manager and the quality of their players and the way they play football is really, really tough.*

*“My objective now is what they have been doing, what they did yesterday and what we expect. It’s not comparing. I know we’re going to face a very tough opponent.”*

On being at a pivotal part of the season: *“I don’t do points targets. I am focused on the game and us and it’s not a moment to make counts.*

*“It’s a moment to focus on our day and how we’re preparing ourselves for a tough place to go. This is what we are focused on.*

*“We have reached a moment when everything is pivotal and decided as it’s the final moments of the season. All the decisions will come now.”*