What is it that’s so special about coaching in this country, in the Premier League?
“It’s the best one. It’s the most challenging. It’s where the best players are. It’s what we love, to compete here in the Premier League.”
It is such a totally immersive role being a Premier League head coach. You have to give up so many things. What is it that fuels your passion for the role?
“It’s my life. My life is football since I know myself. So it’s my routine. I wake up, I go to sleep thinking about football. Now in my head is ‘how can I make these players better? How can I improve them?’. If I improve the player, I improve the team. The team will improve the club. So it’s like this.”
What are the things about the game that you played, and as you say it’s been your life, what is it about football that is so special, what fuels your love for the game?
“We love the game. We are here because we love the game, isn’t it? So, what we want to do is to enjoy, but be responsible, be committed. And this is how I take my life – trying to come and help, come to try and give new solutions, new things, things that can make us better.”
You talk about the relationship with the fans, but also with your squad you talked about, and you have players who you know from previous clubs and from the Premier League?
“We know each other, like I said to you before. It’s been many years. We faced [each other] many, many times. We know each other, even as opponents. Like you say [I worked with] Max [Kilman], but now it’s a new beginning for everybody. It’s a new process that we really have to know, and we find out who we are and what we want to be.
“First of all, we have to realise who we are, and then we can create an identity. But first of all, we have to know each other really, really well.”
You have been involved in the local communities at your previous clubs. West Ham is East London. We’ve got a huge community, a very diverse community here. Are you looking forward to being part of a club that’s a family with members from so many different parts of the world?
“Yes, of course. I want to integrate myself, first of all, in the Club, with you (the staff), with all the people here, because we have to become as a family. We have to realise that we are the ones that represent the community. The community sees us as a mirror, as an image that they want to [be], so that’s why we have to make strong values. We have to be respectful to each other.”
Here’s how fans reacted as Nuno gives his first interview as new West Ham boss while Graham Potter breaks his silence on being sacked…
@FrankieAdams27: Seems such a top geeza, the way the board have dealt with him is so poor Shoudlve sacked him start of the week not 2 days before Everton, wish him the best ⚒️
@jacksonbrigga: honestly fair play to the bloke. i really wanted it to work out for him but results just never got going and he went away from youth which was the one thing the club wanted and needed… all the best for the future graham!
@BabblingIrons: Comes across really well in this! What struck me was his point that they can’t keep asking for the fans to give something & it’s time for them to show, to earn trust back to great unity. Wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment too. As ever we Support the Team & not the Regime
@luc_bailey1: Oh ffs here he goes saying all the right things reeling me in 😩😪
@deutsch_richter: We were piss poor under Potter but, whoever thinks that change was made for that reason is mistaken. The only reason the owners made the change is to protect their investment and to take some heat off. If they knew we’d stay up with Potter in charge, he’d still be here #COYI ⚒️
@whucam_: We have every ability to create atmosphere at LS, we’ve shown it on multiple occasions. Let’s hope Nuno can create a team that represents us fans so the energy can translate into atmosphere ⚒️
@Perkinz9: It’s easy for a manager to come in, especially after a shit show, and make it all sound good – Potter did too. But I like the gist of what he’s getting at. He doesn’t deserve any respect, he needs to earn it, and so do the team. Build the team, the trust and then a fortress!
@DHurleybooks: Yep, I’m on board. Just this language is so much better, rather than “we had to suffer”, “trust the process”, “stick together” etc. This is what it needs to be right now.
