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West Ham's head coach has stated that the team's squad are ready to evolve and have accepted blame for the team's poor form over the last year and a half.

The Portuguese manager, who is the third head coach since David Moyes left at the end of the previous campaign, is striving to improve the mood in the locker room after replacing Graham Potter last weekend. West Ham have been lacking guidance, and there is a general acceptance among the squad that they contributed to the former manager departing from his job after less than a year.

“I find a nice group of people,” Nuno said. “They are starting to realise that we have to change our approach. Without change, results will be the same. They are ready to change. It's evident. Therefore, let's embrace it and let’s change it.”

“It goes from skill-based, strategic, physical, mindset, discipline, communication. Clear communication is a vital asset for us. We currently lack have it fully. It must become a honest and clear communication that we all participate in. The squad has held themselves accountable and are willing to move forward.”

The Manager's Immediate Focus

Nuno has had little time to settle in. He does not assembled his coaching team yet, and the ex- Forest manager is not thinking about what West Ham, 19th before facing their next opponents on Saturday, can achieve this season. “My role is simple,” he said. “It focuses on tomorrow.”

Defensive Concerns for West Ham

A major worry for Nuno is improving his team's defending at set pieces. The club have shipped eight goals from corner kicks this term – the most recent concession came in Nuno’s first game, the recent tie at Everton – and will be under constant pressure from dead balls against Arsenal. The concern for Nuno is that it becomes a mental problem.

“It can,” he admitted. “But we will attempt to avoid it. The biggest risk that can occur is that if an opponent gets a set-piece, we begin right away thinking that we are in trouble. This could develop into a trauma.”